Nature of Sociology

 According to Robert Bierstedt’s book “ The Social Order” following are the  characteristics of sociology

I.Sociology is an independent science

•It is not the branch of any other  social science.

•It has its field of study, boundary and method

II.Sociology  is a social science

•It is the family member of social science

•As a social science it concentrates on human, his/her social behavior, social activities and social life.

•Sociology deals with the Social Universe distinguishes it from physics, chemistry, mathematics, and other physical science.

• III. Sociology  is a categorical  and not a normative discipline

•Sociology tells statements about what is , not ‘what should be’ or ‘ought to be’

•It does not make any kind of value- judgment

•It is ethically neutral

•It makes no recommendations on  maters of social policy  or legislation or program.

•It  respects the social knowledge but can not deal with problem of good  and evil, right and wrong or moral or immoral.

IV.Sociology is a pure science  and not an applied science

•The main aim of pure science  is the acquisition of  knowledge. It does not worry about the use of knowledge.

•The main aim of applied science  is to apply the acquired  into life

• •Each pure science may have its own applied field. E.g. physics is the pure science and engineering is its applied  field.

•Sociology  as a pure science  has its applied field  such as administration, diplomacy (international relations) social work etc.

V. Sociology is relatively an Abstract science  and not a Concrete science

•Sociology is not interested in concrete manifestation (demonstration) of human events

• •It is more concerned with the form of  human events and their patterns. For example, sociology  is not concerned with particular wars and revolutions but with war and revolution in general, as social phenomenon, as types of social conflict.

•It is in this simple sense  that sociology is an abstract not concrete science.

VI. Sociology is a generalizing  and not a particularizing  or individualizing science

•It tries  find out the general laws or principles about human interaction and association, about the nature, form, content  and structure of human groups and societies.

•It does not study each and every event that take place in the society.

VII.Sociology is a general science  and not a special social science

•It is concerned wit human interaction and human life in general.

•Social sciences like economics, political science  concentrate their attention  on certain aspects of human interaction and activities. E.g  economics specifies itself in the study of economic activities. Similarly, political science  concentrates on political activities and so on.

• VIII.Finally sociology is both rational and empirical science.

•Rationalism , stresses reason and theories  that result logical inference (conclusion).

•Empiricism, is the approach  that emphasizes experiences and facts  that result from observation and experimentation

•The Empiricist collects facts ; the rationalist  co-ordinate and arrange them.

 •Theories and facts are  required  in the construction of knowledge.

•So,  in sociological inquiry both  are significant

In conclusion

 Sociology is an independent, a social, a categorical, a pure , an abstract, both a rational and empirical and a generalizing social science.

•Theories and facts are  required  in the construction of knowledge

.•So,  in sociological inquiry both  are significant

In conclusion

 Sociology is an independent, a social, a categorical, a pure , an abstract, both a rational and empirical and a generalizing social science.