UNIT I
INTRODUCTION OF SOCIOLOGY
INTRODUCTION-
The term Sociology was coined by Auguste Comte, a French philosopher in 1839. Auguste Comte is the father
of sociology.
DEFINITION-
“Sociology is the science of social phenomena "subject to natural and invariable laws, the discovery of which
is the object of investigation".
Auguste Comte
“Sociology deals with the behaviour of men in groups”.
Kimball Young
“Sociology is concerned with the study of social life and its relationships to the factors of culture, natural
environment, heredity and groups”.
Ogburn
“Sociology is the science of society or of social phenomena”.
Lester Ward
“Sociology is the study of the relationship between man and human environment”.
HP Fairchild
NATURE OF SOCIOLOGY-
Sociology is an Independent Science.
Sociology is a Social Science and not a natural Science
Sociology is a Categorical and not a Normative Discipline
Sociology is a Pure Science and not an Applied Science
Sociology is Relatively an Abstract Science not a Concrete Science
Sociology is a Generalising and not a Particularsing or Individualising Science
Sociology is Both a Rational and an Empirical
[1] Sociology is an independent science:
Sociology is treated as an independent science with its own subject matter, theories and methods. It is not
treated or studied as a branch of any other science.
[2] Sociology is a social science, not a natural science:
As a social science it deals with human beings and social phenomena. It concentrates on a man's social
behaviour, social activities and social life. It is closely related to other social sciences like anthropology
[3] Sociology is a positive science, not a normative science:
Sociology studies things "as it is" and not "as it ought to be" It does not make any value judgments or decide
the directions in which sociology ought to go. It concerns with what it is like but does not concern with what it
should be or what it ought to be.
[4]Sociology is a pure science, not an applied science:
The main aim of pure science is acquisition of knowledge while that of an applied science is its application or
utilization. Sociology does not deal with practical work. It simply observes society in a theoretical way and
studies the factors underlying various social phenomena. It never determines questions of public policy or
recommends any legislation. However, the knowledge acquired by a sociologist is of great help to the
administrators, legislators, social
workers and citizens.
[5] Sociology is an abstract science, not a concrete science:
Sociology studies the society in general and does not confine itself to the study of particular events. It studies
abstract forms of human events and their patterns such as marriage, religion, family, group, etc.
, [6] Sociology is a science of generalization, not a particularizing or an individualizing science:
Sociology tries to determine general laws or principles about human interaction and association, structure of
human groups and societies. It tries to make generalizations on the basis of the study of some selected events.
It does not study social phenomena from a particular angle.
[7] Sociology is a general social science, not a special social science:
The area of inquiry of sociology is general, not specialized. It is concerned with economic, religious and
social activities in a general way.
[8] Sociology is both rational and an empirical science:
There are two broad ways of approach to scientific knowledge. Empiricism is an approach that emphasizes
experience and the facts that result from observation and experimentation. Rationalism stresses on reasoning
and logical inferences. An empiricist collects facts whereas a rationalist coordinates and arranges them.
Sociologists avail both empirical and rational resources.
SCOPE AND SIGNIFICANCEOF SOCIOLOGY IN NURSING
INTRODUCTION OF SOCIOLOGY
INTRODUCTION-
The term Sociology was coined by Auguste Comte, a French philosopher in 1839. Auguste Comte is the father
of sociology.
DEFINITION-
“Sociology is the science of social phenomena "subject to natural and invariable laws, the discovery of which
is the object of investigation".
Auguste Comte
“Sociology deals with the behaviour of men in groups”.
Kimball Young
“Sociology is concerned with the study of social life and its relationships to the factors of culture, natural
environment, heredity and groups”.
Ogburn
“Sociology is the science of society or of social phenomena”.
Lester Ward
“Sociology is the study of the relationship between man and human environment”.
HP Fairchild
NATURE OF SOCIOLOGY-
Sociology is an Independent Science.
Sociology is a Social Science and not a natural Science
Sociology is a Categorical and not a Normative Discipline
Sociology is a Pure Science and not an Applied Science
Sociology is Relatively an Abstract Science not a Concrete Science
Sociology is a Generalising and not a Particularsing or Individualising Science
Sociology is Both a Rational and an Empirical
[1] Sociology is an independent science:
Sociology is treated as an independent science with its own subject matter, theories and methods. It is not
treated or studied as a branch of any other science.
[2] Sociology is a social science, not a natural science:
As a social science it deals with human beings and social phenomena. It concentrates on a man's social
behaviour, social activities and social life. It is closely related to other social sciences like anthropology
[3] Sociology is a positive science, not a normative science:
Sociology studies things "as it is" and not "as it ought to be" It does not make any value judgments or decide
the directions in which sociology ought to go. It concerns with what it is like but does not concern with what it
should be or what it ought to be.
[4]Sociology is a pure science, not an applied science:
The main aim of pure science is acquisition of knowledge while that of an applied science is its application or
utilization. Sociology does not deal with practical work. It simply observes society in a theoretical way and
studies the factors underlying various social phenomena. It never determines questions of public policy or
recommends any legislation. However, the knowledge acquired by a sociologist is of great help to the
administrators, legislators, social
workers and citizens.
[5] Sociology is an abstract science, not a concrete science:
Sociology studies the society in general and does not confine itself to the study of particular events. It studies
abstract forms of human events and their patterns such as marriage, religion, family, group, etc.
, [6] Sociology is a science of generalization, not a particularizing or an individualizing science:
Sociology tries to determine general laws or principles about human interaction and association, structure of
human groups and societies. It tries to make generalizations on the basis of the study of some selected events.
It does not study social phenomena from a particular angle.
[7] Sociology is a general social science, not a special social science:
The area of inquiry of sociology is general, not specialized. It is concerned with economic, religious and
social activities in a general way.
[8] Sociology is both rational and an empirical science:
There are two broad ways of approach to scientific knowledge. Empiricism is an approach that emphasizes
experience and the facts that result from observation and experimentation. Rationalism stresses on reasoning
and logical inferences. An empiricist collects facts whereas a rationalist coordinates and arranges them.
Sociologists avail both empirical and rational resources.
SCOPE AND SIGNIFICANCEOF SOCIOLOGY IN NURSING
