At stake in American sociology’s project are a vision and a cause expressing what are believed to be the greatest, highest, most authentic goods, truths, values, meanings, and purposes. In question are fundamental and ultimate issues of human existence, experience, feeling, and desire. This is a Durkheimian sacred. Mobilizing sociologists in the struggle on behalf of the project is a dedication of the human spirit to what is believed to be most worthy of one’s devotion, true goods to be cherished, and purposes justifying a life’s investment and dedication.
