49th ABS Annual Conference

This session is for researchers, undergraduate and graduate students, and professionals working in the fields of sociology and anthropology.
In this session, we explore some of the philosophical foundations underpinning sociology and anthropology and how they correlate with various insights from the Writings of the Faith. Key issues associated with this theme include the relationship between objectivism and relativism, the path of modernity and the role of reason and spirituality in advancing civilization, and the impact of the natural sciences on the methods of the social sciences. Taking into account the dynamic relationships between the individual, the community, and the institutions and the need to contribute to “a new conception of each [of these three protagonists], appropriate for a humanity that has come of age” (The Universal House of Justice, 28 December 2010), this session examines questions such as: How can we advance our capacity to read reality as social scientists? What forms of reasoning are most conducive to such investigations? What assumptions – such as those concerning human nature, power, and gender roles – should inform the research process? In what ways does the harmony of science and religion influence our posture as social scientists? And, how might we strengthen collective efforts within academic disciplines to address societal challenges and cultivate dialogue that promotes the betterment of the world?