This excerpt from "An Invitation to Sociology" introduces the field of sociology as a relatively young discipline that explores the relationship between individuals and society. It highlights how sociologists study society by acknowledging the profound impact of social status and employing sociological imagination. The text then examines the theories of Durkheim and Weber on societal laws, presenting contrasting views on whether society progresses towards harmony or decline. Finally, it analyzes how sociologists understand the individual's evolving self within society, from "I" to "Me" to the "looking-glass self," and offers new perspectives on traditional topics like marriage and religion, suggesting that societal influence is diminishing in the modern era and that religion, though changing form, will persist.