Why does Peter Berger say that “the secret of winning is insincerity?”

Type :

Presentation

Pages :

3 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

01/15/2009

Category :

Social studies

Sub category :

Sociology

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Summary :

Introduction.
The thesis of P. Berger.
Challenging the deceptive statement 'I must' or 'I have no choice'.
Evaluating P. Berger's thesis.
P. Berger's methodological approach and the implications of his thesis.
Conclusion.
Sources.

Abstract

An oversimplified opposition in sociology is the contraction between two schools of thought. First, there are those who believe that society is a 'gigantic Alcatraz' that dictates every action of individual actors. Secondly, it can be said that others believe in individual action. Nevertheless, some sociologists, such as E. Goffman, see the sociology as a 'puppet theatre' in which social interactions are structured by roles. But P. berger could be located in the school of thought that compares society with a game. P. berger tries, in Invitation to Sociology, to overcome this conflict between two sociologies and to deliver sociologist from social determinism. After having explained how society can control us from the outside (as a prison) but also from the inside, he deals with society as a 'puppet theatre'. But finally, he argues that sociology is a Machiavellian discipline that must tend toward humanism. In fact, he sees society as a 'drama' in which every social agent can step out of his role to be free and change the rules of the game dictated by society. According to him, 'the secret of winning is insincerity'. What king of game is he dealing with? What does insincerity means for him? In other words: why does P. berger argue that "the secret of winning is insincerity"? Moreover, it can be asked if it is a valid thesis. First, we shall explain the thesis of P. berger before trying to evaluate it.