Contemporary society is characterized by processes of fundamental change (keywords: multiple modernities, globalization, mobilization, individualization, transgression of cultures and identities). At the same time, the production of knowledge undergo swift transition and pluralization. By way of discussing sociology’s history as well as some of its non-scientific interfaces, this article deals with the possibilities and problems of sociology within such a context.The general point of departure for the following discussion is classical and contemporary sociology of knowledge. Recurrent references are Asplund, Foucault, Lukács, Mannheim, Musil, Simmel, Weber. The article begins with a discussion on the emergence of sociology. Sociology is seen as a part of the classical modern discourse, which was also expressed by other sciences on modern culture as well as the essay and the novel. They all shared ”hermeneutic horizon”. The discussion continues by considering in detail some matters concerning the relations between sociology, the novel, and the essay: ”essayism” as style of thought; interpretation and creation of realities; language and figuration; theory and fiction.Although there are (and should be) fundamental differences between sociology, the novel, and the essay, relations are also characterized by similarities and proximities. In a ”postdisciplinary” age, this should be considered not as a problem but as a prospect or vision.