Translation

Before translate:
"Because we need to know, and because people need to know, more than ever we need a sociology rooted in its scientific endeavor. Of course, it must have the specificity of its object of study, and thus of its theories and methods, without mimicking the natural sciences in a futile search for respectability. And it must have a clear purpose of producing objective knowledge (yes! there is such a thing, always in relative terms), brought about by empirical observation, rigorous theorizing, and unequivocal communication. Then we can argue-and we will!-about the best way to proceed with observation, theory building, and formal expression of findings, depending on subject matter and methodological traditions. But without a consensus on sociology as science-indeed, as a specific social science-we sociologists will fail in our professional and intellectual duty at a time when we are needed most. We are needed because, individually and collectively, most people in the world are lost about the meaning of the whirlwind we are going through. So they need to know which kind of society we are in, which kind of social processes are emerging, what is structural, and what can be changed through purposive social action. And we are needed because without understanding, people, rightly, will block change, and we may lose the extraordinary potential of creativity embedded into the values and technologies of the Information Age. We are needed because as would-be scientists of society we are positioned better than anyone else to produce knowledge about the new society, and to be credible-or at least more credible than the futurologists and ideologues that litter the interpretation of current historical changes, let alone politicians always jumping on the latest trendy word. "

After Traslate:
"Because we need to know, because people need to know, we are more necessary than ever, it is rooted in the sociology of science. Of course, it must have its special nature of the object of study, so it's theory and methods, do not search in vain to imitate the distinguished natural science. It must have an objective to produce a clear understanding of the purpose (yes! There is such a thing, is always relative terms), arising from empirical observation, rigorous theory, and clear communication. Then we can say that we will be! The best way of observation, theory construction, and the findings of the official statements, according to the traditional themes and methods. However, if there is no consensus, science, sociology and, indeed, as a specific social science, we sociologist will use our expertise obligation to fail most of the time when we need. We are necessary, because, individually and collectively, in the world, most people are experiencing in our whirlwind meaningless. Therefore, they need to know in our society, which is a social process is the emergence of what is structural, as well as by a purposeful change in social action. In addition, we needed, because there is no understanding of, human, right, will block the changes, we may lose the potential to be extraordinary creativity, value and the technology embedded in the information age. We need to because you want to become scientists, social status, we are than anyone else give rise to a new society of knowledge, and credibility, or at least more than the future scientists and theorists refuse the current interpretation of the credibility of historical change, not to the politicians are always the latest and most fashionable word jump. "

Source:Castells, M. (2000). Toward a Sociology of the Network Society. Contemporary Sociology. 29(5): 693-699.