In defence of sociological description: A 'world‐making' perspective.

The article explores the significance of descriptive sociology in the modern era, highlighting its ability to shape public discourse and engage wider audiences. The author emphasizes the need to challenge dominant modes of thinking and reclaim the critical power of sociology through rich and powerful descriptive work. Descriptive methods, with their aesthetic appeal and visual communication, can effectively convey complex ideas and mobilize broader audiences. The article cites examples, such as Thomas Piketty's work on inequality, to illustrate the impact of descriptive sociology on public discourse and policy. While the World Inequality Laboratory's website provides accessible information on global inequality trends, its causal analysis has received mixed reception. Economists and sociologists have offered new perspectives on inequality, but their causal claims have been criticized for lacking consistency and empirical evidence. Nevertheless, descriptive sociology, when purposeful and theoretically grounded, can offer fresh insights into social phenomena, even without clear causal explanations. [Extracted from the article]

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