Erving Goffman’s Systematic Sociology of Information

As part of Erving Goffman’s Centennial celebrations, this paper looks at his work pioneering the sociology of information. Goffman developed a theory of information sui generis, that was independent from extant studies of information. Goffman’s considerations of information suffuse his writings. These are systematic in that they develop and advance throughout his work. However, his contributions to the study of information are only just beginning to be recognized. Prevailing views of Goffman’s work have obscured appreciation of his systematic treatment of information. Goffman was pursuing information as a topic at the same time as Harold Garfinkel. Information – and the systematic study of information – are highlighted as criteria for establishing continuities and discontinuities between Goffman and Garfinkel.