Any Similarity to Events and Persons Is Incidental: Literature to Help Sociologist

Abstract

In this article, I follow the trail of it what can be found in the fine literature (belles-lettres) as a useful knowledge for sociology. I recognize that the social world contained in the literature can be treated as a source of “inspiration for sociological analysis” (P. Ćwikła) and also as a research field. I also raise an interesting research issue, which is the relationship between sociological imagination and literary imagination. Both are related and both have equally important tasks in describing, understanding (or attempting to understand) social reality. It can be said that literary imagination is the older sister of sociological imagination. Therefore, in my opinion, a sociologist should not underestimate the literary imagination, and a writer (literary man) should not embroider the sociological imagination. The importance of both imaginations for understanding, describing and presenting social reality is becoming apparent, especially since it can not be said that both (imaginatively) through their sources – literature and sociology – are not related to each other. I also recognize that literature and sociology can learn from each other and thus develop (D. Alworth).