Humanistic Sociology and the Craft of Teaching

Abstract

The major purpose of this paper is to stimulate discussion and an exchange of ideas about the use of a humanist perspective in the teaching of sociology. I will outline what I see to be the major features of a humanist perspective in sociology and will discuss various teaching techniques, the latter of which have been gathered from many of my successful teaching colleagues. In all of this, to paraphrase a remark once made by C. Wright Mills, "I shall try to be objective; I do not, however, claim to be detached." One final introductory comment is in order: the fundamental presupposition--an obvious bias that underlies my presentation--is that teaching is a craft and, like all craftmanship, is to be taken very seriously.