Meaning of Sociology

Meaning of Sociology

•Sociology is the youngest of the social science

•Its major concern is the society. So it is popularly known as the science of the society.

•Before going to deep about sociology we should know the meaning and types of science

•Science:  science is concerned with knowledge which is systematically arranged.

•Classification of Science:A. Physical Science
B. Social Science

•Physical Science:

•It deals mostly with the natural phenomenon

•Natural phenomenon are regarded  as more precise, exact and less uncertain.

•Example: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Astronomy etc.

• Physical scientists make use of the scientific method  to acquire knowledge

•Experiments are conducted to verify the facts

•Theories and laws of universal validity are established more easily and accurately in physical

science.

•The relationship between cause and effect  is relatively more clear  in physical science

Physical Science:

•It deals mostly with the natural phenomenon

•Natural phenomenon are regarded  as more precise, exact and less uncertain.

•Example: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Astronomy etc.

• Physical scientists make use of the scientific method  to acquire knowledge

•Experiments are conducted to verify the facts

•Theories and laws of universal validity are established more easily and accurately in physical science.

•The relationship between cause and effect  is relatively more clear  in physical science•

• Social Sciences…

•Social science is that bodies of knowledge complied through use of  scientific method which deal with the  forms and content of the human’s interaction ( Yong and Mack)

•Example: History, Political Science, Economics Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology etc.

•Social scientist studies  environment in which we live in and  attempts to understand  how people 

interact in given set of circumstances.

• Sociology as a social science

 •Sociology emerged as an independent social science in the 19th century.

•August Comte, a Frenchman considered to be the father of sociology.

                 

Auguste Comte (1798-1857)

•John Stuart Mill ( Social thinker and philosopher) proposed the word Ethology for this new science

•Hebert Spencer  developed his systematic  study of society and adopted the word Sociology

•With the contribution of Spencer and others sociology became the permanent  name of

the new science

•Sociology is the science which attempts  the interpretative understanding of social action

in order thereby  to arrive at a causal  explanation of its course  and effects.  -Max Weber

•Sociology is the scientific study of the social aspects of human life.  -Kimble Young andRaymond W. Mack

•In the broadest sense  sociology is the study of human interactions and inter relations,

their conditions and consequences-Morris Ginsberg

(More satisfactory and comprehensive definition)

In  conclusion

Sociology  is concerned with, human his/her social relations and his/her society.