UNIT I
THE ORIGIN AND NATURE OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES:
ANTHROPOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE
•According to the concept of rationalization, social life is more and more
Lesson 1 : subjected to calculation and prediction. Earlier people explained
The Birth and Growth of the diseases through divine intervention.
Social Sciences •With discoveries of germ theory and the development of vaccination by
•The birth of the social sciences namely Sociology, Louis Pasteur, people relied more on medical knowledge. Meanwhile,
Anthropology and Political Science has a strong according to Francois Lyotard, science triumphed because it
connection with the modern period. provided reliable results.
•The social sciences developed as a result of the collapse Effects of the Growth of Science
of the medieval worldview that was dominated by the B. The Rise of Universities
religious and theological worldview. Education is the most important factor in the rise of social sciences. The
•Modernity begun when scientists sought to replace the growth of universities also contributed to the triumph of science.
Ptolemaic theory, i.e., the earth as the center of the
solar system, with Galileo’s Heliocentric theory. C. The Dissolution of Feudal Relations
•The birth of the social sciences gave rise to rational and With the intensification of commerce and trade in the 17th century, many
scientific way of studying, planning, and controlling medieval guilds’ or workers’ cooperatives were dissolved and absorbed into
social institutions. the emerging factory system.
The factory system and the unprecedented growth in the urban centers
THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE GROWTH due to trade and commerce attracted a lot of agricultural workers and
OF SOCIAL SCIENCES mass of rural population to migrate to urban centers. This created the
•The origin of the social sciences can be traced back to modern cities.
ancient Greek philosophers: Socrates, Plato and D. Trade and Commerce
Aristotle. During the late 18th century, trade and commerce greatly accelerated.
•Before the birth of modern social sciences in the West, This was one of the major factors in the large-scale European history that
the study of society, culture, and politics was based on also determined largely the direction of the social sciences.
social and political philosophy. Anthropologists also began to compare the differences between rural life
•Social and political philosophies were based on the Bible. and city life, between the civilized life and the supposed “savage” life of
The Unprecedented Growth of Science non-Western people.
Scientific Revolution refers to historical changes E. The Rise of Individualism
The intensification of commerce and trade gradually replaced barter
in thought and belief, to changes in social and system with the introduction of money and banking system. Money
institutional organization, which begun with Nicolaus made the reduction of human interaction to mere business-like
Copernicus. transactions devoid of any warmth and personal touch possible.
The following are some of the most prominent persons who Money economy transformed individuals to autonomous consumers who
laid the foundation that allowed science and technology were released from attachment to local contexts and traditions. Hence,
to change the world: the dominance of money in social life paved the way for individualization
1.Sir Isaac Newton – universal laws of motion and a of lifestyle and the birth of plural relationships.
mechanical model of the universe
2.Francis Bacon – supremacy of reason over imagination
3.Rene Descartes – use of rigorous philosophical analysis THE BIRTH OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AS A RESPONSE TO THE
rather than basing them on dogmas to arrive at truths; TURMOIL OF THE MODERN PERIOD
Father of Modern Philosophy A. Sociology
Effects of the Growth of Science Sociology is a branch of the social sciences that deals with the scientific
A.The Secularization of Learning and Education study of human interactions, social groups and institutions, whole societies,
The triumph of Reason (specifically Western Reason) and and the human world as such. It is a science that studies the relationship
science over dogma and religious authority began with the between the individual and the society as they develop and change in
Reformation. The Protestant movement led by Martin history. It does not only study the existing social forms of interactions but
Luther eroded the power of the Roman Catholic Church. It also pursues the investigation of the emergence of stable structures that
challenged the infallibility of the Pope and democratized sustain such interactions.
the interpretation of the Bible. Etymology
In the Age of Enlightenment, philosophers led by Immanuel socius – companion
Kant challenged the use of metaphysics or absolute truth logos – knowledge
derived mainly from unjustified tradition and authority such – focuses on the ubiquity
as the existence of God. (or the everywhere-ness) of social forces in unlikely forms: sex, gender,
religion, class, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and the like.
What is Enlightenment?” by Immanuel Kant
“Enlightenment is man’s release from his self-incurred Social forces – represent a constellation of unseen yet powerful forces
tutelage. Tutelage is man’s inability to make use of his influencing the behavior of individuals and institutions.
understanding without direction from another. *Sapere – human-created ways of doing things that influence, pressure, or force
aude! Have courage to use your own reason!” – that is people to behave, interact with others, and think in certain ways.
the motto of enlightenment. – normally in the guise of rules (written or unwritten), norms, and
*a Latin phrase which means, “Dare to know.” expectations, which are assumed to be natural.
THE ORIGIN AND NATURE OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES:
ANTHROPOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE
•According to the concept of rationalization, social life is more and more
Lesson 1 : subjected to calculation and prediction. Earlier people explained
The Birth and Growth of the diseases through divine intervention.
Social Sciences •With discoveries of germ theory and the development of vaccination by
•The birth of the social sciences namely Sociology, Louis Pasteur, people relied more on medical knowledge. Meanwhile,
Anthropology and Political Science has a strong according to Francois Lyotard, science triumphed because it
connection with the modern period. provided reliable results.
•The social sciences developed as a result of the collapse Effects of the Growth of Science
of the medieval worldview that was dominated by the B. The Rise of Universities
religious and theological worldview. Education is the most important factor in the rise of social sciences. The
•Modernity begun when scientists sought to replace the growth of universities also contributed to the triumph of science.
Ptolemaic theory, i.e., the earth as the center of the
solar system, with Galileo’s Heliocentric theory. C. The Dissolution of Feudal Relations
•The birth of the social sciences gave rise to rational and With the intensification of commerce and trade in the 17th century, many
scientific way of studying, planning, and controlling medieval guilds’ or workers’ cooperatives were dissolved and absorbed into
social institutions. the emerging factory system.
The factory system and the unprecedented growth in the urban centers
THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE GROWTH due to trade and commerce attracted a lot of agricultural workers and
OF SOCIAL SCIENCES mass of rural population to migrate to urban centers. This created the
•The origin of the social sciences can be traced back to modern cities.
ancient Greek philosophers: Socrates, Plato and D. Trade and Commerce
Aristotle. During the late 18th century, trade and commerce greatly accelerated.
•Before the birth of modern social sciences in the West, This was one of the major factors in the large-scale European history that
the study of society, culture, and politics was based on also determined largely the direction of the social sciences.
social and political philosophy. Anthropologists also began to compare the differences between rural life
•Social and political philosophies were based on the Bible. and city life, between the civilized life and the supposed “savage” life of
The Unprecedented Growth of Science non-Western people.
Scientific Revolution refers to historical changes E. The Rise of Individualism
The intensification of commerce and trade gradually replaced barter
in thought and belief, to changes in social and system with the introduction of money and banking system. Money
institutional organization, which begun with Nicolaus made the reduction of human interaction to mere business-like
Copernicus. transactions devoid of any warmth and personal touch possible.
The following are some of the most prominent persons who Money economy transformed individuals to autonomous consumers who
laid the foundation that allowed science and technology were released from attachment to local contexts and traditions. Hence,
to change the world: the dominance of money in social life paved the way for individualization
1.Sir Isaac Newton – universal laws of motion and a of lifestyle and the birth of plural relationships.
mechanical model of the universe
2.Francis Bacon – supremacy of reason over imagination
3.Rene Descartes – use of rigorous philosophical analysis THE BIRTH OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AS A RESPONSE TO THE
rather than basing them on dogmas to arrive at truths; TURMOIL OF THE MODERN PERIOD
Father of Modern Philosophy A. Sociology
Effects of the Growth of Science Sociology is a branch of the social sciences that deals with the scientific
A.The Secularization of Learning and Education study of human interactions, social groups and institutions, whole societies,
The triumph of Reason (specifically Western Reason) and and the human world as such. It is a science that studies the relationship
science over dogma and religious authority began with the between the individual and the society as they develop and change in
Reformation. The Protestant movement led by Martin history. It does not only study the existing social forms of interactions but
Luther eroded the power of the Roman Catholic Church. It also pursues the investigation of the emergence of stable structures that
challenged the infallibility of the Pope and democratized sustain such interactions.
the interpretation of the Bible. Etymology
In the Age of Enlightenment, philosophers led by Immanuel socius – companion
Kant challenged the use of metaphysics or absolute truth logos – knowledge
derived mainly from unjustified tradition and authority such – focuses on the ubiquity
as the existence of God. (or the everywhere-ness) of social forces in unlikely forms: sex, gender,
religion, class, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and the like.
What is Enlightenment?” by Immanuel Kant
“Enlightenment is man’s release from his self-incurred Social forces – represent a constellation of unseen yet powerful forces
tutelage. Tutelage is man’s inability to make use of his influencing the behavior of individuals and institutions.
understanding without direction from another. *Sapere – human-created ways of doing things that influence, pressure, or force
aude! Have courage to use your own reason!” – that is people to behave, interact with others, and think in certain ways.
the motto of enlightenment. – normally in the guise of rules (written or unwritten), norms, and
*a Latin phrase which means, “Dare to know.” expectations, which are assumed to be natural.
