Theoretical Reasons for Economic Sociology

Abstract

In this paper I try to justify necessity of developing economic sociology in social sciences. In doing so, I present economic sociology as a sub-discipline. The text draws on the interdisciplinary strengths of economic sociology. The core of the article are arguments why economic sociology may be helpful to understand economic life in better way than economics does. The sociological approach, which is different from the economic approach, may be very useful to better understanding economic mechanisms, which are in fact, social mechanisms. The motivations of writing this paper is to explain that using the sociological approach to economic topics has a great research potential and should be still developed. Some economists and sociologists assume that there are separate spheres: the first one is an arena for rational economic activity (the sphere of calculation and efficiency) and the second one, the sphere of sentiment and solidarity. This is an incorrect separation. Real economy consists not only of market-mediated transactions. Economic life is always social life in which human beings participate. Reducing human nature only to economic dimension is an anthropological mistake.