Going back to “Good Society”: Rebuilding “Needs-based” Normative Sociology

Since the twentieth century, the concept of “human needs” has rapidly become a hot button issue in western social science, and has sparked ongoing interdisciplinary debate, while mainstream sociology has shown collective silence on human needs, which deeply reflects that sociology is losing its basic conceptual category and theoretical mode of thinking in responding to normative issues. Sociology, which serves “people” and pays attention to human needs, urgently needs to rethink the contemporary value of its normative tradition. In order to apply sociology for “good” and “human progress”, to fulfill commitment of “good society” by combining fact approach and normative approach in sociological studies, and to realize the connection between sociological research and political action, this article address reflection and reconstruction of needs-based normative sociology.