Reclaiming morality for sociology

Abstract

This review examines José Pérez Adán’s Moral Sociology for a New Epoch (2025), which proposes the establishment of “moral sociology” as a distinct perspective within the social sciences. Pérez Adán argues that morality is embedded in social relations and institutions and therefore cannot be relegated to philosophy alone. Drawing on communitarian sociology, especially the work of Amitai Etzioni and Raymond Boudon’s concept of transsubjectivity, the book calls for a sociological approach to moral objectivity, collective responsibility, and value hierarchies. It also highlights the roles of transcendence, family sovereignty, and structures of virtue in sustaining social order. While provocative and innovative, the book raises questions about pluralism, empirical application, and the place of theology in sociological reasoning.