Emergence of Sociology
The French revolution and the industrial revolution started at
the end of the 18th century. In this article, you will learn about
the emergence of sociology in general and its influence over
India during that period. You will learn about the contribution
of social forces concerning the emergence of sociology.
The emergence of sociology was influenced by the three major
revolutions, as mentioned above. To understand the social
actions such as the natural environment, heredity, factors of
culture, and group.
The Austro-Hungarian philosopher Karl Polanyi wrote ‘The
Great Transformation’. He discussed the book’s title, ‘The Great
Transformation’, influenced by the same three factors.
According to the book, ‘great transformation’ had several
results, among which one of the results began the emergence of
the science of sociology.
When the French Revolution broke out around 1789, history
started to change. The Enlightenment began after the French
Revolution, building a new framework of ideas about nature,
society, and humanity. Social and economic changes were
initiated and brought forward, followed by the industrial
revolution.
Changes occurred during the French revolution
The French revolution was the first ideological and modern
revolution, among all the revolutions like the French revolution,
which lasted for ten years. Society was significantly impacted
because of the changes in the French Revolution.
This revolution eliminated the social distinctions between the
feudal society and the people. The church’s power was taken away
and passed on to the hands of the people. For the first time,
people felt like citizens.
Additionally, the clerical hierarchy existed until the clerical
hierarchy did not give up their property and rights. In Europe and
France, these changes significantly impacted historical, political,
and social conditions. In the historical and social world, Aristotle
and Plato become manifest due to the revolution that happened
in France.
Beginning of the Industrial Revolution
The beginning of the Industrial Revolution was the second
major factor responsible for the emergence of sociology. The
Industrial Revolution started in England in the 18th century
(1870).
This revolution brought several changes in societies; rapid
population growth was experienced after this revolution which
led to the reverberation of the economy.
Due to the rapid population growth, there was more demand
for goods, and hence more numbers of workers were needed as
the production of goods was maximised. Before
Industrialisation, this type of work was done in a traditional
form, like using human resources or primitive tools.
The Enlightenment period
The Enlightenment was an interesting period as it consisted of
many philosophers. The famous figures of this framework were
Jacques Tugot (1729-1781), Jean Condorcet (1743-1794) and
Charles Montesquieu (1689-1755).
These three people challenged the conceptions of the world
and existing tradition. The Enlightenment period was one of the
major factors contributing to the emergence of sociology in the
late 18th and early 19th centuries. In simple words, the meaning
of Enlightenment is having critical ideas and knowing the
reasons behind the primary values of society.
Enlightenment means the construction of a new framework of
the diversity of ideas about man, society, and nature. The
conceptions that existed before are deeply rooted in a
traditional view. This phenomenon is dominated by
Christianity” (Hamilton,23).
Emergence Of Sociology in India
Earlier, India was studied under anthropology in the west. When
the emergence of sociology occurred in India, India was studied
under a mix of anthropology and sociology, or social
anthropology.
The emergence of sociology In India brought several changes,
such as changes in the educated segments of the middle class.
The origin of the emergence of sociology in India started around
the 1920s.
Although Sociology was taught at Bombay University as early as
1914, the true emergence of sociology In India started with the
establishment of sociology departments in Lucknow and
Mumbai. In the Indian subcontinent, the arrival of Sociology
research and its study was the nationalist spirit.
Conclusion
The Industrial Revolution, the French Revolution, and the Enlightenment
were the main three reasons that influenced or contributed to the emergence
of sociology. The emergence of sociology began in the late 18th and early
19th centuries. The lives of common people were much better and easier
during this historical period. Due to all the changes that occurred during this
period, people became more open-minded and started to live a good life with
several options. All these changes were an important turning point for that
period, leading to an economic and technological boom and helping people
to learn to live in societies.
