In short, what is in fact most interesting about sociology lately—to reconnect to my larger thesis—is not really intellectual but, rather, spiritual. That, too, helps partly to explain the power of sociology’s sacred project: it at least is interesting and invigorating. In sum, most of American sociology has becoming disciplinarily isolated and parochial, sectarian, internally fragmented, boringly homogenous, reticently conflict-averse, philosophically ignorant, and intellectually torpid. Sociology lacks the kinds of sustained, fruitful, and intellectually meaningful clashes, struggles, and
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