To prepare for your exams, here is a comprehensive and detailed breakdown of every concept
according to the sequence provided in the sources.
I. Introduction to Social Science (Week 1)
● Definition: Social science is the study of how people interact with one another within
society 1.
● Key Focus: It is a group of academic disciplines that focus on individual behavior
within a social context 2.
● Scope: Unlike natural sciences (physics, biology, chemistry) which study the physical
world, social science examines the relationships between individuals and societies
and how these societies develop and operate 3.
● Methodology Preference: Social scientists generally rely more heavily on
interpretation and qualitative research methodologies compared to the natural
sciences 2, 3.
● Primary Branches: Most experts agree on five core fields: Anthropology, Economics,
Political Science, Sociology, and Psychology 4, 5.
● Extended Branches: Other disciplines often included are Geography, History, Law, and
Criminology 4, 5.
II. Origins and Founding Fathers (Weeks 2 & 3)
● Ancient Roots: The origins of social science can be traced to the ancient Greeks,
whose early studies into human nature and the state helped shape Western civilization
6.
● The Enlightenment (18th Century): The field emerged as a disciplined academic study
during the Age of Reason, led by intellectuals like Adam Smith, Voltaire, Jean-Jacques
Rousseau, and David Hume 7, 8.
● Milestones:
● Montesquieu (1748): Often credited with the first attempt to apply scientific principles to
politics and social organization 8.
● Adam Smith (1776): His work The Wealth of Nations laid the foundation for modern
economics by examining market exchange and self-interest 9.
● Auguste Comte: Known as the founder of sociology, he coined the term and
advocated for studying society through positivism and empirical evidence 9-11.
● Other Key Figures:
● Karl Marx: Foundational to sociology and economics through his critique of capitalism
and theory of historical materialism 11.
● Emile Durkheim: Advanced sociology as a scientific discipline by studying the division
of labor and social cohesion 12.
● Max Weber: Focused on the rationalization of society and the sociology of religion 12.
● Sigmund Freud: The father of psychoanalysis, which profoundly influenced
psychology 13.
● Margaret Mead: A pioneering cultural anthropologist who studied gender roles and
cultural variation 14.
according to the sequence provided in the sources.
I. Introduction to Social Science (Week 1)
● Definition: Social science is the study of how people interact with one another within
society 1.
● Key Focus: It is a group of academic disciplines that focus on individual behavior
within a social context 2.
● Scope: Unlike natural sciences (physics, biology, chemistry) which study the physical
world, social science examines the relationships between individuals and societies
and how these societies develop and operate 3.
● Methodology Preference: Social scientists generally rely more heavily on
interpretation and qualitative research methodologies compared to the natural
sciences 2, 3.
● Primary Branches: Most experts agree on five core fields: Anthropology, Economics,
Political Science, Sociology, and Psychology 4, 5.
● Extended Branches: Other disciplines often included are Geography, History, Law, and
Criminology 4, 5.
II. Origins and Founding Fathers (Weeks 2 & 3)
● Ancient Roots: The origins of social science can be traced to the ancient Greeks,
whose early studies into human nature and the state helped shape Western civilization
6.
● The Enlightenment (18th Century): The field emerged as a disciplined academic study
during the Age of Reason, led by intellectuals like Adam Smith, Voltaire, Jean-Jacques
Rousseau, and David Hume 7, 8.
● Milestones:
● Montesquieu (1748): Often credited with the first attempt to apply scientific principles to
politics and social organization 8.
● Adam Smith (1776): His work The Wealth of Nations laid the foundation for modern
economics by examining market exchange and self-interest 9.
● Auguste Comte: Known as the founder of sociology, he coined the term and
advocated for studying society through positivism and empirical evidence 9-11.
● Other Key Figures:
● Karl Marx: Foundational to sociology and economics through his critique of capitalism
and theory of historical materialism 11.
● Emile Durkheim: Advanced sociology as a scientific discipline by studying the division
of labor and social cohesion 12.
● Max Weber: Focused on the rationalization of society and the sociology of religion 12.
● Sigmund Freud: The father of psychoanalysis, which profoundly influenced
psychology 13.
● Margaret Mead: A pioneering cultural anthropologist who studied gender roles and
cultural variation 14.
