Introduction To
Sociology
Course Instructor: Samiullah Salamzai
Chapters To Be Covered In
This Course
Introduction to Sociology.
Social Organization.
Socialization.
Personality.
Economic Institutions.
Educational Institutions.
Family Institutions.
Political Institutions.
Religion.
Social Mobility.
Social Stratification.
Introduction to Culture.
Recommended
Books
Sociology By: Panel B.Horton, Chester L.Hunt and McGraw
Hill.
Sociology and social problems By: prof. Abdul Hamid Taga.
Introduction to Sociology By: Anthony Giddens 9th edition.
Introduction to Sociology By: George Ritzer.
Introduction to Sociology By: Laurence Basirico, Barbara
Cashion.
Introduction to Sociology By: Theodor Adorno, Christoph, 1st
Edition.
Introduction To
Sociology
Chapter:
1
List Of Topics In This
Chapter
Sociology Background.
Short History Of Sociology.
Definition of Sociology.
Nature and Scope of Sociology.
Importance of Sociology.
Fields of Sociology.
Sociology
Man
Background
are living with other of their kind called
societies and generally sociology task is to discover
these constants to describe them with economy of
concepts and to delineate their inter-relations.
No other science to study it in its entirely, it is the
focus of the interest that distinguish sociology from
other sciences- science of the society.
Treated as social philosophy, sociology emerged as an
independent social science in the 19th century.
Short History Of
Sociology
Auguste Comte: ( France) (1798-1857)
The term sociology was coined by August Comte in 1838.
He was a French philosopher and sociologist.
Auguste Comte is called the father or founder of sociology.
According to him sociology is concerned with the analysis and
explanation of social phenomena.
Comte felt that science could be used to study the social world.
It was in this context that Comte introduced the concept of
positivism to sociology — a way to understand the social world
based on scientific facts.
He believed that, with this new understanding, people
could build a better future. He envisioned a process of
social change in which sociologists played crucial
roles in guiding society.
Comte also believed in the potential of social
scientists to work toward the betterment of society.
He held that once scholars identified the laws that
governed society, sociologists could address problems
such as poor education and poverty.
Karl Marx: (German) (1818-1883)
Karl Marx was a German philosopher and economist.
Marx predicted that inequalities of capitalism would become so
extreme that workers would eventually revolt.
He regarded private property and capitalism as the tool of poverty.
This would lead to the collapse of capitalism, which would be
replaced by communism.
Communism is an economic system under which there is no private or
corporate ownership: everything is owned communally and
distributed as needed.
Marx believed that communism was a more equitable system than
capitalism.
Herbert Spencer: (English) (1820-1903)
Herbert Spencer was an English Philosopher.
Herbert Spencer published The Study of Sociology, the first
book with the term “Sociology” in the title.
He compared society to an organism which continually
changed to adapt to its environment.
He favored a form of government that allowed market
forces to control capitalism.
His work influenced many early sociologists including
Émile Durkheim (1858–1917).
Definition Of Sociology
The word Sociology was coined by Auguste Comte – French
philosopher in 1838. He is consider as a father of Sociology.
Sociology is the youngest of all the social sciences.
The word Sociology came from two prominent languages of early
advanced civilization. “Socious”, a Latin word, meaning Society
and from the Greek word “Logos”, meaning to study. From this
coined words, it could be further deduced that, sociology is the
study of society and human behavior.
Definitions of Sociology by Different
Sociologists
Sociology is the scientific study of society. “August Comte”
The science of social phenomena. “Franklin Henry Giddings”
The science of social relations “Small”
The scientific study of social aspects of human life and human
behaviors in group. "Kimball Young and Raymond W. Mack”
Sociology as a science of social institutions. “Emile Durkheim”
Sociology as the study of social life. “Ogburn and Nimkoff”
Sociology is a general science of society. “Kingsley Davis”
Sociology is the science that deals with the social groups. “Harry M.
Johsnson”
Sociology is the science of collective behavior. “Robert Park”
The study of man-in-relationship to men. “Marshal Jones”
Nature of Sociology
Sociology is an Independent Science
Sociology has now emerged into an independent science.
It is not treated and studied as a branch of any other science
like philosophy or political philosophy or history.
As an independent science it has its own field of study,
boundary and method.
Sociology is a Social Science and not a Physical Science
As a social science it concentrates its attention on man, his social
behavior, social activities and social life.
The fact that sociology deals with the Social universe it
distinguishes from astronomy, physics, chemistry, geology,
mathematics and other physical sciences.
Sociology is a What it is and not a What should be
Discipline
Sociology “confines itself to statements about what it is, not what
should be or ought to be”.
But it does not mean that sociological knowledge is useless and
serves no purpose.
It only means that sociology as a discipline cannot deal with
problems of good and evil, right and wrong, and moral and
immoral.
Sociology is a Pure Science and not an Applied Science
Each pure science may have its own applied field.
For example: physics is a pure science and engineering is its
applied field.
Sociology as a pure science has its applied field such as
administration, diplomacy, social work etc.
Sociology is Relatively an Abstract Science and not a
Concrete Science
Sociology is not interested in concrete only its demonstrations of
human events.
It is more concerned with the form of human events and their
patterns.
For example: sociology is not concerned with particular wars and
revolutions but with war and revolution in general, as a social
phenomena, as a type of social conflict.
Sociology is a Generalizing and not a particularizing or
individualizing Science
Sociology tries to find out the general laws of principle about
human interaction and association, about the nature, form,
content and structure of human groups and societies.
It does not study each and every event that takes place in society.
It is not possible also.
Scope of Sociology
The scope of sociology is very wide. The subject does not
limit its study to only economic or political life of human
beings, but to all aspects of life with which man in society is
concerned.
Therefore, we say that sociology is the mother of all social
sciences.
Scope Has Been Divided Into
Two Division
Scope in the field of Knowledge.
Scope in the field of Profession.
Scope In the Field Of Knowledge
Sociologists have the primary and basic aim to build up
knowledge about the society and social interaction.
The sociologist must know about the social problems and their
solutions. This is possible on the basis of knowledge.
The specialized field of sociology that gives knowledge to the
students of sociology about different aspects of human social
life is as follow.
Sociology of History:
It focusing on how societies develop through history. It looks at how
social structure are in fact shaped by complex social process.
Political Sociology:
The study of the interrelationship between society and polity, between
social structure and political institution.
Economic sociology:
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution,
and consumption of goods and services. Economic sociology studies that
social effect and the social causes of various economic phenomena, while,
sociology is the study of human social relationship and institutions.
Rural Sociology:
It deals with the society of village or rural society.
Industrial Sociology:
The sociology of industrial relations and industrial activities of man.
Urban Sociology:
It deals with the city or the urban community, with urbanization and
urbanism.
Sociology of Education:
It studies the functional relationship between education and other great
institutional orders of society such as the economy, the polity, religion
and kinship.
Sociology of the family:
a branch of sociology studying the construction and role of families, as
well as the relations both within the domestic sphere and outward into
the work sphere.
Sociology of religion:
the study of the beliefs, practices and organizational forms
of religion using the tools and methods of the discipline of sociology.
Scope of Sociology As A Field
Of Profession
Sociology is also a professional discipline. It performs the
followings services as a profession.
Teaching
Research
Administration
Teaching:
The people who get knowledge become qualified. These
qualified persons are serving in the teaching profession. These
teachers in the field of research and survey and to transmit the
cultural traits and train students.. It means that teaching
profession serves to transmit knowledge about the culture and
to train the student for community development.
Research:
The qualified person in the discipline of sociology are
involved in the field of research. They work to find serious
problems, their factors and are able to get these problem
solved.
The sociologists are engaged in different governmental and
non governmental organization. They are employed in various
ministries and department.
The researcher are also working in much national and
international organization like UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR,
WHO, WFP.
Administration:
The sociologist are employed in different programmed or
governmental and non governmental organization as
administrator. They direct and guide the people in organization
about the development in different sectors.
Conclusion:
From the above discussion it is concluded that the sociologist
gets knowledge about the society. Then they serve as a
teachers, researchers and administrator to make the
development of the community possible.
Importance Of Sociology
Sociology studies society in a scientific way.
Sociology has made great contribution to enrich human culture.
Value of sociology is keep us update on modern situation.
Reconstruction: Today societies are engaged in economic as well as
political reconstruction, it is a continuous process but impossible
without social reconstruction. Therefore, we can say that sociology
helps in political and economic reconstruction.
Sociology is of great importance in the solution of international
problems.
Sociology throws more light on the social nature of man.
It is useful for preservation and growth of the culture.
Sociology keeps us up-to-date on modern social situations and
development.
It’s study is useful to obtain factual information about our society
and the different aspect of our social life.
Useful to learn the application of scientific method and techniques to
our daily life problems.
Sociology studies role of the social institution in the development of
the individual. Social institution e.g.. Family, school, and education
state and government, industry and community.
Result of sociological investigation is useful to government officials,
community leaders, entrepreneurs and businessmen.
It helps in the solution of social problems as it studies the causes of
social evils.
The result of sociological investigations provide a better background
for meeting and solving problems.
It guides people in planning welfare programme.
Sociological knowledge is necessary for understanding and
planning of society.
It helps in changing our attitudes.
Sociology is important for comparative studies of societies.
Sociology improves our understanding of society, and increase the
power of social action.
sociology tells us how to become what we want to be.
Sociology studies the role of the institutions in the development of
the Individual.
Sociology is of great importance in the solution of social problems.
Sociology has drawn our attention to the essential worth and dignity
of man.
Sociology has changed outlook with regard to the problems of crime
etc.
Sociology is useful as a teaching subject.
Sociology as a profession.
Fields Of Sociology
A sociologist is one who has earned advanced degrees or pursued other
advanced studies in sociology and is engaged in teaching, research or
other professional work in the field of sociology.
Medical Sociology:
Medical sociology is the sociological analysis of medical
organizations and institutions; the production of knowledge and
selection of methods, the actions and interactions of healthcare
professionals, and the social or cultural (rather than clinical or
bodily) effects of medical practice.
Military Sociology:
Military sociology is now a well-established and respected subfield
within sociology. To survey the field this collection is organized
around four major themes:
(1) military organization
(2) civil-military relations
(3) the experience of war
(4) the use and control of force.
Political Sociology:
Political sociology is traditionally concerned with how social trends,
dynamics, and structures of domination affect formal political
processes, as well as exploring how various social forces work
together to change political policies.
Sociology of Law:
The sociology of law (or legal sociology) is often described as a sub-
discipline of sociology or an interdisciplinary approach within legal
studies, law and sociology is broadly focused on the relationship
between law and society, both historically and in the contemporary
world.
Industrial Sociology:
Industrial sociology is generally a program that discusses the
relationships between people in industrial settings, such as the
workplace. The direction and implications of trends in technological
change, globalization, labor markets, work organization, managerial
practices and employment relations.
Comparative Sociology:
Comparative Sociology is a quarterly international scholarly journal
dedicated to advancing comparative sociological analyses of
societies and cultures, institutions and organizations, groups and
collectivities, networks and interactions.
