Briefing Document: Principles of Social Organisation (SOCI
121/101)
Course: SOCI 121/101 Principles of Social Organisation Lecturer: Dr. Dan-Bright S. Dzorgbo, UGRC
() Academic Years: 2014/2015 – 2016/2017
Date: October 26, 2023 Subject: Review of Key Concepts and Themes in Sociology
Introduction:
This briefing document summarizes the main themes and most important ideas presented in the provided
slides for SOCI 121/101, focusing on the development of sociology, its foundational concepts, key theorists,
research methods, culture, social structure, groups, socialization, and deviance and social control. The
slides, compiled by Dani K�y, provide a comprehensive overview of the principles of social organisation
from a sociological perspective.
I. The Development and Subject Matter of Sociology (Session 1)
•Definition and Subject Matter: Sociology is defined as "the science that studies human society, social
interactions and human behaviour." Society itself is a complex entity characterized by a defined
geographical area, shared culture, collective identity, interaction, cooperation for essential tasks, political
authority, and capacity for self-defense.
•Historical Context: The emergence of sociology as a scientific study is rooted in the profound socio-
economic and political transformations in Europe before and during the 18th and 19th centuries. These
changes necessitated a new way of understanding society.
•Factors Accounting for the Emergence of Sociology: Several key factors contributed to the rise of
sociology:
•Industrial Revolution and Urbanization: The development of industries led to massive migration from
rural areas to growing cities, creating new social problems like pollution, which became subjects for
sociological analysis.
•Rise of Socialist Ideas: Philosophers like Karl Marx critiqued the emerging capitalist system and its
associated problems, influencing the study of social inequalities and conflict.
•Political Revolutions: Events like the French Revolution led to questioning traditional social orders and
the need for a scientific understanding of societal change.
•Rebellion against Religious Influence: Martin Luther's rebellion against the Catholic Church and the
questioning of religious doctrines undermined the dominance of religious explanations for social
phenomena, paving the way for secular, scientific inquiry.
•The Enlightenment Ideas: This period emphasized the use of "reasoning capacities and powers of
humans (and not blind religious explanations)" to understand the world, including human society. This
provided the intellectual framework for a scientific approach to social study.
II. Founders of Sociology (Sessions 2 & 3)
The slides introduce several key figures considered founders of sociology:
•Auguste Comte (1798-1857):Considered the "father of sociology."
•Heavily influenced by natural sciences and advocated for Positivism, a scientific approach to studying
society based on observation and evidence.
•Coined the term "sociology" from "socius" (companion) and "logos" (study of), meaning "the study of
society."
•Proposed the Law of Three Stages: theological, metaphysical, and positivistic stages of societal
understanding.
•Concepts: Experimentation, Historical Comparative Method, Social Statics (social order) and Social
Dynamism (social change).
, •Herbert Spencer (1820-1903):Influenced by Darwinian evolution.
•Believed society evolves from simpler to more complex stages through competition, leading to "social
progress and human perfection."
•Coined the term "survival of the fittest" in a social context, a concept known as Social Darwinism.
•Viewed society as a Living Organism, with interdependent parts (social institutions like family, religion,
economy, polity, education, health) functioning to ensure the survival of the whole.
•Advocated for non-intervention by governments in societal affairs.
•Karl Marx (German): (To be covered in other sessions, but key ideas are mentioned in relation to social
problems and conflict)
•Sought to address the "inherent social problems or the 'evils' associated with the emerging capitalist
industrial production system."
•Divided social institutions into the substructure (economic institution, production of material things) and
the superstructure (religion, education, family, politics, ideas, law, media).
•Argued that the substructure contains the forces and relations of production, while the superstructure
contains the "ruling ideas" of society.
•Emile Durkheim (French): (To be covered in other sessions, but his Anomie theory is discussed in
relation to deviance).
•Max Weber (Germany): (To be covered in other sessions).
III. Sociological Perspectives (Session 4)
Sociological perspectives are described as different "ways of viewing social phenomena, social issues and
human behaviour." Three major perspectives are introduced:
•Structural Functionalism (or Functionalism):Views society as composed of structures or parts that
are interdependent and perform functions for its survival.
•Aims to explain "what holds society together and make them stable and orderly."
•Macro-level analysis, focusing on the large-scale structures and institutions of society.
•Herbert Spencer's view of society as a living organism with interdependent parts (family, religion, polity,
health, etc.) is an example of this perspective.
•Marxism and Conflict Theory: (Based on Karl Marx's ideas, though not fully detailed in the provided
text). This perspective typically views society as characterized by conflict and inequality arising from power
imbalances and competition for resources.
•Symbolic Interactionism:Examines small scale patterns and interactions in society.
•Focuses on "how everyday interactions and symbolic communications and meanings in generated in the
local communities" influence individual behavior and social outcomes.
•Micro-level analysis.
IV. Science, Sociology, and the Social Sciences (Session 5)
•What is Science: Science is described as a systematic method for studying and observing phenomena.
It is based on empirical evidence ("seeing is believing") and seeks to establish causal relationships. The
assumption is that "every event or action has a cause and this cause can be proven with evidence."
•Why Sociology is Science: Sociology is considered a science because it "uses systematic and logical
approach in the study of social phenomena." It generates "scientific knowledge about social phenomena
from systematic and logical approach" and utilizes the scientific method (often studied as research
method) to conduct social investigations.
•Sociology and Other Social Sciences: Sociology is one of several disciplines that study human beings
in society. These disciplines are collectively called the social sciences due to the complexity of the social
world, which requires different angles of study. While distinct and specialized, they share common
approaches and areas. Sociology is characterized by its broadest subject matter, encompassing "the
whole society and human interaction," leading to numerous sub-fields.
121/101)
Course: SOCI 121/101 Principles of Social Organisation Lecturer: Dr. Dan-Bright S. Dzorgbo, UGRC
() Academic Years: 2014/2015 – 2016/2017
Date: October 26, 2023 Subject: Review of Key Concepts and Themes in Sociology
Introduction:
This briefing document summarizes the main themes and most important ideas presented in the provided
slides for SOCI 121/101, focusing on the development of sociology, its foundational concepts, key theorists,
research methods, culture, social structure, groups, socialization, and deviance and social control. The
slides, compiled by Dani K�y, provide a comprehensive overview of the principles of social organisation
from a sociological perspective.
I. The Development and Subject Matter of Sociology (Session 1)
•Definition and Subject Matter: Sociology is defined as "the science that studies human society, social
interactions and human behaviour." Society itself is a complex entity characterized by a defined
geographical area, shared culture, collective identity, interaction, cooperation for essential tasks, political
authority, and capacity for self-defense.
•Historical Context: The emergence of sociology as a scientific study is rooted in the profound socio-
economic and political transformations in Europe before and during the 18th and 19th centuries. These
changes necessitated a new way of understanding society.
•Factors Accounting for the Emergence of Sociology: Several key factors contributed to the rise of
sociology:
•Industrial Revolution and Urbanization: The development of industries led to massive migration from
rural areas to growing cities, creating new social problems like pollution, which became subjects for
sociological analysis.
•Rise of Socialist Ideas: Philosophers like Karl Marx critiqued the emerging capitalist system and its
associated problems, influencing the study of social inequalities and conflict.
•Political Revolutions: Events like the French Revolution led to questioning traditional social orders and
the need for a scientific understanding of societal change.
•Rebellion against Religious Influence: Martin Luther's rebellion against the Catholic Church and the
questioning of religious doctrines undermined the dominance of religious explanations for social
phenomena, paving the way for secular, scientific inquiry.
•The Enlightenment Ideas: This period emphasized the use of "reasoning capacities and powers of
humans (and not blind religious explanations)" to understand the world, including human society. This
provided the intellectual framework for a scientific approach to social study.
II. Founders of Sociology (Sessions 2 & 3)
The slides introduce several key figures considered founders of sociology:
•Auguste Comte (1798-1857):Considered the "father of sociology."
•Heavily influenced by natural sciences and advocated for Positivism, a scientific approach to studying
society based on observation and evidence.
•Coined the term "sociology" from "socius" (companion) and "logos" (study of), meaning "the study of
society."
•Proposed the Law of Three Stages: theological, metaphysical, and positivistic stages of societal
understanding.
•Concepts: Experimentation, Historical Comparative Method, Social Statics (social order) and Social
Dynamism (social change).
, •Herbert Spencer (1820-1903):Influenced by Darwinian evolution.
•Believed society evolves from simpler to more complex stages through competition, leading to "social
progress and human perfection."
•Coined the term "survival of the fittest" in a social context, a concept known as Social Darwinism.
•Viewed society as a Living Organism, with interdependent parts (social institutions like family, religion,
economy, polity, education, health) functioning to ensure the survival of the whole.
•Advocated for non-intervention by governments in societal affairs.
•Karl Marx (German): (To be covered in other sessions, but key ideas are mentioned in relation to social
problems and conflict)
•Sought to address the "inherent social problems or the 'evils' associated with the emerging capitalist
industrial production system."
•Divided social institutions into the substructure (economic institution, production of material things) and
the superstructure (religion, education, family, politics, ideas, law, media).
•Argued that the substructure contains the forces and relations of production, while the superstructure
contains the "ruling ideas" of society.
•Emile Durkheim (French): (To be covered in other sessions, but his Anomie theory is discussed in
relation to deviance).
•Max Weber (Germany): (To be covered in other sessions).
III. Sociological Perspectives (Session 4)
Sociological perspectives are described as different "ways of viewing social phenomena, social issues and
human behaviour." Three major perspectives are introduced:
•Structural Functionalism (or Functionalism):Views society as composed of structures or parts that
are interdependent and perform functions for its survival.
•Aims to explain "what holds society together and make them stable and orderly."
•Macro-level analysis, focusing on the large-scale structures and institutions of society.
•Herbert Spencer's view of society as a living organism with interdependent parts (family, religion, polity,
health, etc.) is an example of this perspective.
•Marxism and Conflict Theory: (Based on Karl Marx's ideas, though not fully detailed in the provided
text). This perspective typically views society as characterized by conflict and inequality arising from power
imbalances and competition for resources.
•Symbolic Interactionism:Examines small scale patterns and interactions in society.
•Focuses on "how everyday interactions and symbolic communications and meanings in generated in the
local communities" influence individual behavior and social outcomes.
•Micro-level analysis.
IV. Science, Sociology, and the Social Sciences (Session 5)
•What is Science: Science is described as a systematic method for studying and observing phenomena.
It is based on empirical evidence ("seeing is believing") and seeks to establish causal relationships. The
assumption is that "every event or action has a cause and this cause can be proven with evidence."
•Why Sociology is Science: Sociology is considered a science because it "uses systematic and logical
approach in the study of social phenomena." It generates "scientific knowledge about social phenomena
from systematic and logical approach" and utilizes the scientific method (often studied as research
method) to conduct social investigations.
•Sociology and Other Social Sciences: Sociology is one of several disciplines that study human beings
in society. These disciplines are collectively called the social sciences due to the complexity of the social
world, which requires different angles of study. While distinct and specialized, they share common
approaches and areas. Sociology is characterized by its broadest subject matter, encompassing "the
whole society and human interaction," leading to numerous sub-fields.
