F.Y.B.A.
SOCIOLOGY PAPER - I
FOUNDATION OF SOCIOLOGY
, 2
1
SOCIOLOGY AS A DISCIPLINE
Contents :
*Perspectives in sociology: - Functionalist, Conflict, Interpretive,
Critical.
*Sociology Imagination: - Developing a sociological outlook
*Significance of sociology
Unit Structure :
1.0 Objectives
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Definition
1.3 Subject matter of sociology
1.4 Is Sociology a science ?
1.5 Nature of sociology
1.6 Scope of sociology
1.7 Early thinkers
1.8 Perspectives in sociology
1.8.1 Fuctionalist perspective
1.8.2 Conflict perspective
1.8.3 Interactionist perspective
1.8.4 Critical perspective
1.0 OBJECTIVES:-
To give a basic understanding of sociology.
To know the meaning and subject matter of sociology
To understand the nature of scientific study
To know the nature and scope of sociology
To study the contribution of early thinkers towards the
development of sociology
, 3
To familiarize the students with various sociological
perspectives
1.1. INTRODUCTION:
In the family of social sciences, Sociology is comparatively a
new entrant. But because of its dealing with social problems, social
relationships and social interactions the importance of the study of
this subject has considerably increased. It has considerably
developed in methodology, scope and approach. Attempts are now
being made to study every social problem scientifically and
objectively, eliminating subjectivity to the extent possible a
distinctive way of examining human interactions. Sociology is the
systematic study of social behavior and human groups. It focuses
primarily on the influence of social relationships upon people’s
attitudes and behavior and on how societies are established and
change. As a field of study sociology has a very broad scope. It
deals with families, gangs, business firms, computer networks,
political parties, schools, religions, and labor unions. It is concerned
with love, poverty, conformity, technology, discrimination, illness,
alienation, overpopulation and community.
1.2. DEFINITION:
Sociology is being defined differently by our sociologists and
other’s each one of course, has its own news about the nature and
scope of the subject, as he conceives it.
According to Ward “Sociology is science of society”.
George Simmel opines that it is a subject which studies human
inter-relationship.
Giddins is of the view that “Sociology is scientific study of
society”.
Max Weber has viewed sociology as “Science which attempts
imperative understanding of social actions”.
Sorokin is of the opinion that sociology is a study first of all the
relationship and correlations between various classes...
second between the social and non social aspects of life and
third it studies general characteristics common to all classes
of society.
Ogburn has said that, “Sociology is concerned with the study
of social life and its relations to the factors of culture, natural
environment, heredity and group.”
, 4
Durkheim while defining sociology has said that, “It is the science
of collective representation.”
We may thus conclude these definitions with the definition of E.S.
Bogardus when he says that, “Sociology may be defined as
the study of the ways in which social experiences function in
developing, maturing and repressing human beings through
inter-personal stimulations.”
From all these definitions it becomes clear that sociology is
concerned with social relationships and studies society, human
interactions, inter-personal and intra-personal relations. It tries to
study scientifically social institutions, organizations and systems.
These definitions also make it amply clear that sociologists view the
subject differently and that there is no unanimity in this regard.
1.3. SUBJECT MATTER OF SOCIOLOGY:
while discussing its subject matter of sociologist, Sorokin
said that, “It seems to be a study, first of the relationship and
correlation between various classes of social phenomena”
(correlation between economic and religious, family and moral,
judicial and economic, mobility and political phenomena and so on);
second that between social and non social (geographical,
biological) phenomena; third the study of general characteristics
common to all classes of phenomena. Thus according to his view
point sociology studies social events, relationships between social
and non social phenomena and generalized study of facts common
to all aspects of social life.
In his book ‘Society, Culture and Personality’ he has said
that sociology is more or less concerned with the working of human
beings. In this study he covers the study of human behavior, social
organizations, social phenomena and social values. He is thus
altogether opposed to formal school of thought.
Check Your Progress
1. Define Sociology.
2. Discuss its subject matter.
SOCIOLOGY PAPER - I
FOUNDATION OF SOCIOLOGY
, 2
1
SOCIOLOGY AS A DISCIPLINE
Contents :
*Perspectives in sociology: - Functionalist, Conflict, Interpretive,
Critical.
*Sociology Imagination: - Developing a sociological outlook
*Significance of sociology
Unit Structure :
1.0 Objectives
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Definition
1.3 Subject matter of sociology
1.4 Is Sociology a science ?
1.5 Nature of sociology
1.6 Scope of sociology
1.7 Early thinkers
1.8 Perspectives in sociology
1.8.1 Fuctionalist perspective
1.8.2 Conflict perspective
1.8.3 Interactionist perspective
1.8.4 Critical perspective
1.0 OBJECTIVES:-
To give a basic understanding of sociology.
To know the meaning and subject matter of sociology
To understand the nature of scientific study
To know the nature and scope of sociology
To study the contribution of early thinkers towards the
development of sociology
, 3
To familiarize the students with various sociological
perspectives
1.1. INTRODUCTION:
In the family of social sciences, Sociology is comparatively a
new entrant. But because of its dealing with social problems, social
relationships and social interactions the importance of the study of
this subject has considerably increased. It has considerably
developed in methodology, scope and approach. Attempts are now
being made to study every social problem scientifically and
objectively, eliminating subjectivity to the extent possible a
distinctive way of examining human interactions. Sociology is the
systematic study of social behavior and human groups. It focuses
primarily on the influence of social relationships upon people’s
attitudes and behavior and on how societies are established and
change. As a field of study sociology has a very broad scope. It
deals with families, gangs, business firms, computer networks,
political parties, schools, religions, and labor unions. It is concerned
with love, poverty, conformity, technology, discrimination, illness,
alienation, overpopulation and community.
1.2. DEFINITION:
Sociology is being defined differently by our sociologists and
other’s each one of course, has its own news about the nature and
scope of the subject, as he conceives it.
According to Ward “Sociology is science of society”.
George Simmel opines that it is a subject which studies human
inter-relationship.
Giddins is of the view that “Sociology is scientific study of
society”.
Max Weber has viewed sociology as “Science which attempts
imperative understanding of social actions”.
Sorokin is of the opinion that sociology is a study first of all the
relationship and correlations between various classes...
second between the social and non social aspects of life and
third it studies general characteristics common to all classes
of society.
Ogburn has said that, “Sociology is concerned with the study
of social life and its relations to the factors of culture, natural
environment, heredity and group.”
, 4
Durkheim while defining sociology has said that, “It is the science
of collective representation.”
We may thus conclude these definitions with the definition of E.S.
Bogardus when he says that, “Sociology may be defined as
the study of the ways in which social experiences function in
developing, maturing and repressing human beings through
inter-personal stimulations.”
From all these definitions it becomes clear that sociology is
concerned with social relationships and studies society, human
interactions, inter-personal and intra-personal relations. It tries to
study scientifically social institutions, organizations and systems.
These definitions also make it amply clear that sociologists view the
subject differently and that there is no unanimity in this regard.
1.3. SUBJECT MATTER OF SOCIOLOGY:
while discussing its subject matter of sociologist, Sorokin
said that, “It seems to be a study, first of the relationship and
correlation between various classes of social phenomena”
(correlation between economic and religious, family and moral,
judicial and economic, mobility and political phenomena and so on);
second that between social and non social (geographical,
biological) phenomena; third the study of general characteristics
common to all classes of phenomena. Thus according to his view
point sociology studies social events, relationships between social
and non social phenomena and generalized study of facts common
to all aspects of social life.
In his book ‘Society, Culture and Personality’ he has said
that sociology is more or less concerned with the working of human
beings. In this study he covers the study of human behavior, social
organizations, social phenomena and social values. He is thus
altogether opposed to formal school of thought.
Check Your Progress
1. Define Sociology.
2. Discuss its subject matter.
