To some individuals what you know and what you are told are facts and they are not to be questioned. They do not question the idea that maybe society, culture, and politics shape the very things they know to be true. There is a branch of sociology that focuses on the question, how do we know what we know and what do we know? The sociology of knowledge questions the ideas and thoughts that we know on a regular basis. This Marxist study questions everyday things such as science, politics, and religion. Sociology by definition studies the social sources and social consequences of knowledge. Our truths are organized into thoughts based on their relations of each other. The sociology of knowledge tells us to break these boundaries that we have made for ourselves. .
Social organization is one of the tools that is used in the sociology of knowledge. .
Social organization shapes the content and structure of knowledge into basic groupings. These groups of information that we learn shield us from learning the real truth. So in order to understand the truth the boundaries of knowledge need to be restructured. .
Knowledge and society can both change the way in which we know things. Society shapes knowledge and knowledge also shapes society. An example of knowledge shaping society is the idea of evolution and its effects on society. Those who agree with evolution were forced to question their religious beliefs that they had been taught their entire life. the knowledge of evolution has changed the religious truths of society. Society is always shaping knowledge into an organized way that is easy for society to understand. .
Sociology of knowledge is considered sociology because it shares many ideas with the study of sociology. Power has a large influence in the sociology of knowledge. There can not be knowledge without power and power is part of a truth, power, and knowledge cycle. Power is a tool used by society to control our truths.