Universal Content and National Forms in the Development of Sociological Knowledge: The View of a Russian Sociologist

Examining the dual nature of sociology as both a system of knowledge and a social institution, the article defines key features of sociological knowledge distinguishing it from previous forms of social cognition, and analyses social mechanisms of the epistemological process in sociology. The social nature of different types of sociological theory is shown. The contribution of different national cultures to the development of universal sociological knowledge is discussed with special attention to the Russian contribution. The challenges facing contemporary sociological science in the new age are examined together with the tasks that now have to be resolved by different sociological schools and institutions.