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The article presents the author's reflections on Norwegian sociology. It has been an independent social enterprise, not tied to particular party-interests or social movements. In my opinion an important element in Norwegian sociology has always been the opportunity it provided to express social rebellion--definitely, though, a rather disciplined and temperate rebellion. One aim has been to launch an attack on the illusions and constraining conventions in both the private and public sectors of society. Erik Grønseth has written consistently over the years about how human identity and integrity can be degraded and damaged in modern society. Vilhelm Aubert, whose influence in Norwegian sociology has been outstanding came from law to sociology in 1954 published an important book about manifest and latent functions of punishment. Norwegian sociology is often associated with studies of social deviance of groups that the welfare state has either forgotten or has not reached with its good intentions. The political parties saw no major flaws in the way they viewed society; welfare capitalism was accepted and growth was the key to progress. Sociologists engaged themselves in the so-called action research, not being satisfied with the narrow limitations set by respectable scientific tasks of analysis and description.