ABSTRACT
The discipline of sociology has a complex relationship with the natural sciences. Whereas the natural sciences seek to show the effects of the processes of nature, sociologists have carved out their field by demonstrating the importance of the social. Social constructions remain grounded in a dynamic ecological system, even as Earth's ecosystems become increasingly affected by human constructions. Human constructors who neglect the ecological system operating behind their backs do so at the risk of unintentional human self-destruction. Sociology has repeatedly reacted to the imperialistic thrusts of biology by regressing to the opposite extreme of constructing its own equally narrow social imperialism. The growing awareness that social constructions unleash dynamic processes of nature that bear on social action has the potential of radically transforming sociology. In particular, as society runs the risk of environmental problems, the construction of sociology as if nature did not matter meets with increasing skepticism from the wider public and from sociologists themselves.
