Sociology's sense of self: a response to Crossley and Shilling

In a previous edition of The Sociological Review (vol. 49, no. 3), we argued that current developments within the sociological study of the human body should be seen as important contributions not only to that sub-field of investigation, but also to the discipline as a whole. This is because the dilemmas involved in sociological comprehension of the body are emblematic of predicaments now facing the whole configuration of sociological thought, regardless of the particular empirical objects under scrutiny. However, in their respective responses to this piece, printed in the same issue of the journal, Nick Crossley and Chris Shilling have misrepresented our views as to how sociology should deal with such exigencies.