The contributions of Karl Manheim are central to understanding the interpretative and hermeneutic traditions in sociology. Mannheim’s work, particularly in the Sociology of Knowledge, explores how social location, historical context, and ideological positioning shape human understanding and interpretation.
For UGC NET Sociology, questions on Mannheim often connect hermeneutics, interpretative sociology, ideology, utopia, and relationism.
The following 50 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) are carefully framed to match UGC NET exam patterns.
1. Karl Mannheim is best known for his contribution to:
A. Structural functionalism
B. Positivism
C. Sociology of Knowledge
D. Conflict theory
Answer: C
2. Mannheim’s sociology emphasizes that knowledge is:
A. Universal and timeless
B. Socially conditioned
C. Biologically determined
D. Scientifically neutral
Answer: B
3. Which book is most closely associated with Mannheim’s theory of knowledge?
A. The Sociological Imagination
B. Ideology and Utopia
C. Economy and Society
D. The Protestant Ethic
Answer: B
4. Mannheim belongs primarily to which sociological tradition?
A. Positivist tradition
B. Interpretative tradition
C. Behaviorist tradition
D. Functionalist tradition
Answer: B
5. Mannheim’s work was strongly influenced by:
A. Auguste Comte
B. Émile Durkheim
C. Max Weber
D. Talcott Parsons
Answer: C
6. Hermeneutics mainly deals with:
A. Statistical analysis
B. Interpretation of meaning
C. Social experiments
D. Survey research
Answer: B
7. Mannheim viewed ideology primarily as:
A. False consciousness only
B. A political doctrine
C. Socially situated knowledge
D. Psychological bias
Answer: C
8. Which concept did Mannheim introduce to overcome relativism?
A. Positivism
B. Objectivism
C. Relationism
D. Determinism
Answer: C
9. Relationism suggests that knowledge is:
A. Absolutely true
B. Entirely false
C. Related to social position
D. Independent of society
Answer: C
10. Mannheim distinguished between ideology and:
A. Rationality
B. Utopia
C. Positivism
D. Culture
Answer: B
11. According to Mannheim, utopias are ideas that:
A. Maintain the status quo
B. Are scientifically verifiable
C. Aim to transform society
D. Are irrational beliefs
Answer: C
12. Mannheim’s hermeneutic approach stresses:
A. Cause and effect
B. Meaning and interpretation
C. Mathematical modeling
D. Experimental control
Answer: B
13. Which group did Mannheim consider crucial in modern society for interpretation?
A. Working class
B. Bourgeoisie
C. Intellectuals
D. Peasantry
Answer: C
14. Mannheim described intellectuals as:
A. Politically neutral
B. Classless and detached
C. Free-floating intelligentsia
D. Economically dominant
Answer: C
15. The term “free-floating intelligentsia” refers to:
A. Elites without ideology
B. Intellectuals detached from class interests
C. Revolutionary leaders
D. Capitalist thinkers
Answer: B
16. Mannheim rejected the idea that sociology should be:
A. Empirical
B. Interpretative
C. Value-free absolutist
D. Historical
Answer: C
17. Mannheim’s interpretative method is closest to:
A. Positivism
B. Hermeneutics
C. Behaviorism
D. Structuralism
Answer: B
18. Which of the following is central to hermeneutic sociology?
A. Measurement
B. Prediction
C. Understanding (Verstehen)
D. Experimentation
Answer: C
19. Mannheim argued that social thought varies according to:
A. Climate
B. Biology
C. Social location
D. Technology
Answer: C
20. Mannheim’s approach challenges which idea?
A. Value neutrality
B. Historical analysis
C. Interpretation
D. Social conditioning
Answer: A
21. Mannheim viewed sociology as:
A. Pure science
B. Moral philosophy
C. Interpretative discipline
D. Natural science
Answer: C
22. Which tradition best explains Mannheim’s methodology?
A. Functionalism
B. Hermeneutic-interpretative
C. Quantitative positivism
D. Biological determinism
Answer: B
23. Mannheim’s sociology bridges:
A. Theory and practice
B. Economics and politics
C. Knowledge and social structure
D. Religion and science
Answer: C
24. Mannheim criticized positivism because it:
A. Is too political
B. Ignores meaning
C. Lacks data
D. Overuses history
Answer: B
25. According to Mannheim, understanding society requires:
A. Value neutrality
B. Experimental testing
C. Interpretation of ideas
D. Statistical modeling
Answer: C
26. Mannheim believed ideas are shaped by:
A. Individual psychology only
B. Divine influence
C. Social-historical context
D. Natural laws
Answer: C
27. Mannheim’s hermeneutics is concerned with:
A. Language and symbols
B. Numbers and facts
C. Biology and evolution
D. Technology and media
Answer: A
28. Mannheim saw ideology as:
A. Always negative
B. A ruling class tool only
C. Context-dependent thought
D. Pure illusion
Answer: C
29. Mannheim’s theory helps explain:
A. Social mobility
B. Knowledge production
C. Economic cycles
D. Population growth
Answer: B
30. Mannheim’s work is most relevant to:
A. Interpretative sociology
B. Mathematical sociology
C. Demography
D. Sociobiology
Answer: A
31. Mannheim emphasized understanding ideas through:
A. Experiments
B. Interpretation
C. Surveys
D. Observation only
Answer: B
32. Which concept links Mannheim with Weber?
A. Social facts
B. Verstehen
C. Anomie
D. Collective conscience
Answer: B
33. Mannheim believed knowledge cannot be separated from:
A. Society
B. Science
C. Biology
D. Nature
Answer: A
34. Mannheim rejected absolute objectivity because:
A. It is unscientific
B. It ignores social conditioning
C. It is moralistic
D. It is political
Answer: B
35. Mannheim’s sociology is best described as:
A. Positivist
B. Deterministic
C. Relational
D. Mechanistic
Answer: C
36. Mannheim argued that interpretation depends on:
A. Individual talent
B. Cultural context
C. Biological traits
D. Climate
Answer: B
37. Mannheim’s hermeneutics focuses on:
A. External behavior
B. Inner meaning of ideas
C. Economic laws
D. Institutional rules
Answer: B
38. Mannheim’s work challenges which assumption?
A. Knowledge is neutral
B. Society is dynamic
C. Ideas influence action
D. Culture matters
Answer: A
39. Mannheim’s sociology helps understand:
A. Crime rates
B. Social thought
C. Population trends
D. Urbanization
Answer: B
40. Mannheim viewed sociology as both:
A. Objective and neutral
B. Interpretative and critical
C. Quantitative and experimental
D. Natural and biological
Answer: B
41. Mannheim’s contribution lies at the intersection of:
A. Politics and economics
B. Knowledge and society
C. Religion and science
D. Culture and biology
Answer: B
42. Mannheim considered ideas to be:
A. Fixed truths
B. Context-free
C. Historically situated
D. Scientifically absolute
Answer: C
43. Mannheim’s approach is useful for analyzing:
A. Social meanings
B. Laboratory data
C. Physical processes
D. Biological evolution
Answer: A
44. Mannheim believed intellectuals could:
A. Escape ideology completely
B. Interpret multiple viewpoints
C. Remain politically neutral
D. Avoid social influence
Answer: B
45. Mannheim’s hermeneutics is opposed to:
A. Interpretation
B. Understanding
C. Positivist objectivism
D. Historical analysis
Answer: C
46. Mannheim argued that knowledge changes with:
A. Climate
B. Technology only
C. Social change
D. Biology
Answer: C
47. Mannheim’s theory highlights the role of:
A. Power alone
B. Meaning and context
C. Statistics
D. Natural laws
Answer: B
48. Mannheim’s sociology is especially important for:
A. Engineering studies
B. Natural sciences
C. Social theory
D. Medical research
Answer: C
49. Mannheim’s work is often linked to:
A. Positivist methodology
B. Interpretative sociology
C. Structural functionalism
D. Sociobiology
Answer: B
50. Mannheim’s hermeneutic tradition ultimately seeks to:
A. Predict behavior
B. Control society
C. Understand social reality
D. Eliminate ideology
Answer: C
51. Karl Mannheim viewed sociology of knowledge as the study of:
A. Scientific laws
B. Individual psychology
C. Social origins of ideas
D. Economic determinism
Answer: C
52. Mannheim’s sociology rejects the claim that knowledge is:
A. Historically rooted
B. Socially conditioned
C. Value-neutral and absolute
D. Context-dependent
Answer: C
53. Hermeneutic tradition primarily emphasizes:
A. Measurement of facts
B. Causal explanation
C. Interpretation of meanings
D. Experimental verification
Answer: C
54. Mannheim’s interpretative approach is closest to:
A. Positivist epistemology
B. Natural science model
C. Verstehen sociology
D. Behaviorist psychology
Answer: C
55. Mannheim’s idea of “total ideology” refers to:
A. Political propaganda
B. Individual false belief
C. Worldview of a social group
D. Scientific error
Answer: C
56. According to Mannheim, partial ideology refers to:
A. Ideas of intellectuals
B. Individual distortion of truth
C. Collective worldview
D. Utopian thinking
Answer: B
57. Mannheim’s theory suggests that ideas should be studied in relation to:
A. Nature
B. Society
C. Biology
D. Technology
Answer: B
58. Which of the following best explains Mannheim’s use of hermeneutics?
A. To test hypotheses
B. To explain social facts
C. To understand social meaning
D. To predict behavior
Answer: C
59. Mannheim believed that sociology should combine:
A. Science and religion
B. Explanation and understanding
C. Economics and politics
D. Theory and statistics
Answer: B
60. Mannheim’s work contributed significantly to:
A. Sociology of religion
B. Sociology of education
C. Sociology of knowledge
D. Rural sociology
Answer: C
61. Mannheim argued that objectivity in sociology can be achieved through:
A. Value neutrality
B. Relationism
C. Experimental methods
D. Statistical analysis
Answer: B
62. Mannheim’s interpretative sociology opposes which view?
A. Historical consciousness
B. Social conditioning of thought
C. Absolute relativism
D. Positivist absolutism
Answer: D
63. Mannheim’s hermeneutic method focuses on:
A. External behavior
B. Numerical data
C. Meaning of ideas
D. Biological instincts
Answer: C
64. Mannheim believed that social groups produce:
A. Universal truths
B. Neutral knowledge
C. Distinct perspectives
D. Scientific facts
Answer: C
65. Mannheim’s concept of “relationism” attempts to:
A. Reject sociology
B. Defend relativism
C. Overcome relativism
D. Promote positivism
Answer: C
66. Mannheim’s sociology emphasizes the importance of:
A. Natural laws
B. Historical context
C. Biological inheritance
D. Geographic factors
Answer: B
67. Mannheim’s ideas are closely linked to which methodological approach?
A. Quantitative analysis
B. Experimental design
C. Interpretative analysis
D. Statistical modeling
Answer: C
68. Mannheim considered ideology to be:
A. Always false
B. Always true
C. Contextual and social
D. Purely political
Answer: C
69. Mannheim’s theory highlights the relationship between:
A. Power and economy
B. Knowledge and society
C. Religion and science
D. Culture and biology
Answer: B
70. Mannheim believed that understanding society requires attention to:
A. Social meanings
B. Natural laws
C. Biological traits
D. Physical environment
Answer: A
71. Mannheim’s hermeneutic sociology is critical of:
A. Interpretation
B. Meaning
C. Positivist reductionism
D. Historical analysis
Answer: C
72. Mannheim’s sociology encourages sociologists to be:
A. Value-neutral observers
B. Detached experimenters
C. Reflexive interpreters
D. Technical experts
Answer: C
73. Mannheim argued that ideas gain meaning within:
A. Individual minds
B. Natural systems
C. Social-historical settings
D. Laboratory conditions
Answer: C
74. Mannheim’s interpretative tradition helps explain:
A. Social change
B. Knowledge formation
C. Ideological conflict
D. All of the above
Answer: D
75. Mannheim’s hermeneutic approach ultimately aims to:
A. Control society
B. Predict social behavior
C. Understand socially situated knowledge
D. Eliminate ideology
Answer: C
FAQs on Karl Manheim
1. Who was Karl Manheim in sociology?
Karl Manheim was a German sociologist best known for founding the Sociology of Knowledge, which explains how social position, history, and ideology shape human thought and interpretation.
2. Why is Karl Manheim important for UGC NET Sociology?
Karl Manheim is important for UGC NET because questions frequently appear on his ideas of ideology, utopia, relationism, and interpretative sociology, especially in Paper 2 (Thinkers).
3. What is the Sociology of Knowledge according to Karl Manheim?
According to Karl Manheim, the Sociology of Knowledge studies how ideas, beliefs, and knowledge are socially conditioned and influenced by historical and class contexts.
4. How did Karl Manheim contribute to the hermeneutic tradition?
Karl Manheim contributed to the hermeneutic tradition by emphasizing interpretation of meaning, arguing that knowledge must be understood within its social and historical setting.
5. What does ideology mean in Karl Manheim’s theory?
In Karl Manheim’s theory, ideology refers to socially rooted systems of ideas that reflect the interests and positions of specific social groups, not merely false consciousness.
6. What is the difference between ideology and utopia in Karl Manheim’s thought?
For Karl Manheim, ideology maintains the existing social order, while utopia contains ideas that aim to transform or change society.
7. What is relationism according to Karl Manheim?
Relationism, proposed by Karl Manheim, suggests that knowledge is related to social context but is not completely relative, helping overcome extreme relativism.
8. What does “free-floating intelligentsia” mean in Karl Manheim’s theory?
The “free-floating intelligentsia” in Karl Manheim’s theory refers to intellectuals who are relatively detached from class interests and capable of interpreting multiple social perspectives.
9. How is Karl Manheim linked to interpretative sociology?
Karl Manheim is linked to interpretative sociology through his focus on Verstehen (understanding), meaning, and the interpretation of ideas rather than positivist explanation.
10. Which book of Karl Manheim is most important for sociology students?
The most important book of Karl Manheim for sociology students is Ideology and Utopia, which forms the core of questions asked in UGC NET and university exams.