WHAT IS

SOCIOLOGY?
 Sociology
is the study of social behavior or society,
including its origins, development, organization,
networks, and institutions. It is a social science that
uses various methods of empirical investigation
and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge
about social order, disorder, and change.
 The word sociology (or "sociologie") is derived
from both Latin and Greek origins. The Latin
word: socius, "companion"; the suffix -logy, "the study
of" from Greek- from lgos, "word",
"knowledge.
PROPONENTS OF
SOCIOLOGY AND
THEIR GROUND
BREAKING WORKS
 Isidore Auguste Marie
Francoise Xavier Comte

Father of Sociology

Coined the term

sociology

Saw sociology as the

Auguste Comte product of a three-
(January 19, 1798 stagehistorical
September 5, 1857) development.
 (1)theological stage (beginning of human
history to the end of the EuropeanMiddle Ages)
people took a religiousview of society and saw it as a
nexpression of gods will.

(2)Metaphysical stage (Renaissance)

people understood society as a naturalrather than
supernatural phenomenon.

(3)Scientific stage of history -

appliedthe scientific approach to the study of society.
Harriet Martineau (1802 1876)
 Translated the works of Auguste Comte fro
m French into English. Revealed the evils of
slavery,rights of women, emancipation of slaves a
nd religious tolerance. In her view, scholars and
intellectuals should not simply offer observations
of socialconditions; they should act upon their co
nvictions in a manner that will benefit society.
 Considered as the
second founder of sociology
because of his publication
of the first sociology textbook
in 1855 entitled, Social
Statics.

Herbert Spencer
(1820 1903)
 Compared society to the human body. The
parts of the human body function interdependently
to help the entire organism to survive, social
structures work together to preserve society.

Followed the work of Charles Darwins theory

of biological evolution which holds that species
change physically over many generations as it
adapts to its natural environment. He proposed that
society is a jungle with the fittest people rising to
the top and the weak gradually sinking into
miserable poverty.
David Emile Durkheim
(April 15, 1858 1917)
 Sees society as a god. Society exists
beyond ourselves. Because it is larger than us it
has the power to guide our thoughts and action.
Peoplecreate society but once created, it takes a
life of its own.
Published a study on suicide (1897) which demonstrates the
great influence upon individual behavior of varying forms
and degrees of social integration. He classified suicide as
follows:

(1)Altruistic suicide a person feels a

deep sense of moral obligation an is willing to place the
groups welfare above his/her own survival (spy who gets
caught).

(2)Egoistic suicide occurs when the

individual feels little connection to the larger society and is
not affected by social constraints against self-destructive
behavior.
(3)Anomic suicide-occurs in a time of great
social disorder or turmoil. Anomic refers to a loss
of direction that is felt in a society when social
control
of individualbehavior has become ineffective(nor
mlessness).

(4)Fatalistic suicide related to the powerlessness

that people feel when their lives are regulated to
an intolerable extent(prisoners).
 Philosopher, economist and political activist
born in Tier, Prussia.

Economic Determinism assumed that the

most basic task of any human society is
providing food and shelter to sustain itself.
Thus, family structure, law, and religion all
develop after adapting to the given
economic structure.

Social conflict
Karl Marx struggle between segments of society over
(May 5, 1818 1883)valued resources. The most significant form
of social conflict is class conflict arising from
the way a society produces material goods.
 Emphasized how human ideas shape society.
Ideasespecially beliefs and valuesare the
key to understanding society. He saw modern
society not just as a product of new
technology and capitalism, but of a new way
of thinking.

Rationalization of society the historical

changef rom tradition to rationality as the
dominant mode
of human thought; members of pre-industrial
societies are traditional whereas people In
Max Weber
(April 24, 1864 June 14, industrial-capitalist societies are rational.
1920)