Metamorfoses da Sociologia em Tempos de Crise. Metamorphoses of Sociology in Times of Crisis. Metamorfosis de la sociología en tempos de crisis

This article introduces the topic of crises in sociology and presents the dossier “Metamorphoses of Sociology in Times of Crisis.” To this end, it offers a brief review of the literature on crises in sociology, highlighting the importance of conceptual discussion, the relationships between crises within society and within knowledge, as well as themes present in contemporary crisis diagnoses. It discusses how some themes are recurrent, appearing in distinct contexts, which may characterize more lasting differences in sociologists’ self-understanding of the discipline. At the same time, the article highlights some new developments in the contemporary debate, particularly the controversy surrounding the existence and definition of a sociological “canon” and the emergence of ecology as an important theme linked to transformations in the social perception of crises and problems. The articles comprising the dossier are presented throughout the text in conjunction with the broader literature.