Sociologists as change agents? Thoughts on Lamont’s Seeing Others

Abstract

This essay argues that Lamont’s Seeing Others constitutes both an example of, and call for, public sociology. Overviewing Lamont’s approach to change agents and recognition chains, I question what role sociologists can play as change agents. This involves both a brief historical overview of Du Bois’ approach to recognition and social research, before putting forward some methodological questions about how to instigate an “ordinary humanism” in one’s research practice.