Definitions Berger feels happiest with

TASK 2, Q.2: Looking at Berger;s exploration of these terms [‘society’, ‘social’, ‘problem’ and ‘ideology’] identify the definition that he feels happiest with. Suggestions:

‘society’: Berger seems happiest with a ‘precise’ usage of the term (i.e. not ‘lay’): "The sociologist thinks of `society' as denoting...etc."(middle of the paragraph).

‘social’: Again, the sociologist will ‘use the term more narrowly & precisely’ than ‘in common speech’ & feels it is ‘difficult to improve on Max Weber's definition’

‘problem’: more difficult here, as Berger operates mainly by example & elimination of what a sociological problem is not. Interestingly, the ‘definition’ he seems happiest with is not couched in ‘defining’ terms:

"The ‘problems’ that the sociologist will want to solve concern an understanding of the entire social situation, the values and modes of action in both systems, and the way in which the two systems coexist in space and time"

‘ideology’: this is only being used to illustrate Berger's preoccupation with the notion of ‘debunking’, so Berger does not actually attempt to ‘chisel out’ a definition. He seems content to establish a context of use of the term than to establish a working definition:

"Sociologists speak of ‘ideology’ in discussing views that serve to rationalise their vested interests of some group"