Abstract:

In his book “The Sociological Imagination，” Mills comprehensively criticizes the abstractness and stiffness in the theories and methodology of traditional sociology in America. In the process， he has advocated new theoretical and methodological paradigms that are characteristic of postmodernism. His transition to postmodernism is obvious in his views of human history and contemporary times， criticisms of grand theories， attitudes toward positivism， comprehension of discipline divisions， and value preferences. However， his criticisms of modern sociology are based on classic sociological theories without completely abandoning modernism， which separates his thought from pure postmodernism and thus posits his in between modernism and postmodernism. Therefore， it seems that， by rereading “The sociological Imagination，” we are able to logically connect postmodern theories with modern sociology， suggesting that there is no unsurpassable gap between the two.

Key words: Mills, The Sociological Imagination, postmodern turn