Abstract:

 The impact of big data on sociological researches is so massive that a methodological turn or rather a statement of “The End of Theory” has occurred.  However, in the ontological perspective, the limitation of big data is that it over simplifies social life, thus ignoring or suspending its special historical meaning. The meaning declared by big data advocators refers to the objective and general meaning, which is a distorted interpretation. In addition, if more and more scholars are devoted to “computational sociology” or “new computational sociology”, a further disciplinary division will take place as a result. In this regard, we should uphold the essentials of the discipline such as theoretical significance and humanistic concern. In a nutshell, an urgent response to the big data era is necessary, which calls for “swimming against the stream” on the level of disciplinary reflection.

Key words:  big data, ontological meaning, the End of Theory, disciplinary reflection