What Is Sociology? (Book)

What Is Sociology? is a collection of four essays by Marcel Mauss. The work serves as a source that examines the epistemological foundations of sociology during its early institutionalization. This Turkish edition, published by Dergâh Yayınları in September 2022 as part of their Sociology series, is translated by Murat Devres and spans 182 pages.

Content and Thematic Approach

The four essays in the book are structured around themes such as defining the object of sociology, establishing relationships with disciplines like psychology and law, debating its political role, and addressing its mission of scientific peace. Mauss, taking into account the social anxieties of the post-First World War era, elucidates sociology’s contribution to social analysis.

Themes

• Science and Politics: The political role of the sociologist in contributing to social peace is emphasized.
• The Discipline of Sociology: It discusses how sociology approaches its object while adhering to the validity of scientific questions.
• Interdisciplinary Influence: The intersections of sociology with fields such as linguistics, psychology, and the history of religion are examined.
• Critical Epistemology: It includes inquiries into the methodological approaches of the social sciences in problem solving.

Style and Publication Features

Mauss’s texts are written at an academic level, in a clear, analytical, and argumentative style. The translation conveys these theoretical nuances and original modes of expression faithfully to the Turkish reader.