Sociology
Module I

Introduction
Definition of Sociology
Nature and Scope of
Sociology

Introduction
The word sociology was coined by
Auguste Comte – French Philosopher in
1839. He is consider as a father of
Sociology.
Sociology is one of the youngest of all
the Social Sciences.
The word Sociology is derived from the
Latin Word ‘Societus’ which means
‘society’ and the Greek word ‘logos’ means
‘science or study or advanced study’.
Science of society or study of society.

Definitions of Sociology
L.F. Ward defines, “Sociology is the
science of society or of social
phenomena”.
Ginsbergsays, “Sociology is the study of
human interaction and interrelation of
their conditions and consequences”.
Emile Durkheim defines, “ Sociology as a
science of social institutions”.
Ogburn and Nimkoff defines, “Sociology as
the study of social life”.
Kimball Young defines, “Sociology deals
with the behaviour of men in groups”.

Subject matter of Sociology
Sociology is
– the study of society
– the science of social life
– the study of social relationships
– the study of human behaviour in groups
– the study of forms of social relationships
– the study of social action
– the study of social groups and social
systems

Nature of Sociology
1. Sociology is an Independent Science
2. Sociology is a Social Science and not a
Physical Science
3. Sociology is a Categorical and not a
Normative Discipline
4. Sociology is a Pure Science and not an
Applied Science
5. Sociology is Relatively an Abstract
Science not a Concrete Science
6. Sociology is a Generalising and not a
Particularsing or Individualising Science
7. Sociology is Both a Rational and an
Empirical

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.

Nature of Sociology
Sociology is a Social Science and
not a Physical Science.
– As a social science it concentrates
its attention on man, his social
behaviour, 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.

Nature of Sociology
Sociology is a Categorical
and not a Normative
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.

Nature of Sociology
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.

Nature of Sociology
Sociology is Relatively an Abstract
Science and not a Concrete Science
– Sociology is not interested in concrete
only it 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.

Nature of Sociology
Sociology is a Generalising and not a
particularising or individulalising
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.

Nature of Sociology
Sociology is Both a Rational
and Empirical Science
– Rationalism, stresses reason and
the result from logical inference.
– Empiricism, is emphasises experience
and the facts that result from
observation and experimentation.
– In Sociological inquiry both are
significant.

Scope of Sociology
Two different views about the
scope of sociology.
There is no one opinion about the scope
of sociology.
In the broadest sense, Sociology is
studying human interactions, their
conditions and consequences.
There are two main schools of thought
among sociologist on this issue.
– Specialistic or Formalistic School
– Synthetic School

Specialistic or Formalistic
School
In this group of sociologists demarcates,
Sociology clearly from other branches of
social study and confines it to the “enquiry
into certain defined aspects of human
relationship” or “Sociology as pure and
independent”.
Sociology has a limited field of enquiry
and deals those problems which are not
dealt with other social science.
– Specialistic or Formalistic School.

Synthetic School
Theothergroupmaintainsthatthefieldof
socialinvestigationistoowideforanyother
socialscienceand“Sociologyasspecialsocial
science”SuchasEconomics,Anthropology,
History,etc.thereisalsoconsiderof a
“Sociologyisageneralscience”.
Sociologystudieseverythingandanything
underthe sun.
– SyntheticSchool

Specialist of Formalistic
School
Simmel
Small
Vierkandt
Max
Weber
Von Wiese
Tonnie

Specialist of Formalistic
School
This group led by Simmel views
sociology is confined to the
enquiry of certain defined aspects
of human relationship and they
consider sociology as pure and
independent.
Simmel’s view sociology deals with
same topics as they from a different
angle – from the angle of different
modes of social relationships.

Specialist of Formalistic
School
Small’s views - sociology does not
study all the activities of society.
The scope of sociology is the
study of the generic (general)
forms of social relationships,
behaviours and activities, etc.

Specialist of Formalistic
School
Vierkandt’s view – sociology is a special
branch of knowledge dealing with the
ultimate forms of mental or psychic
relationships which unite people in
society.
He further maintains that similarly in
dealing with culture sociology should not
concern itself with the actual contents of cultural
evolution but it should confine itself to only the
discovery of the fundamental forces of change
and persistence.

Specialist of Formalistic
School
Max Weber’s view – sociology aims to
interpret and understand social
behaviour but it does not include all
human relations because all of them are
not social.
According to him, Sociology concerned
with the analysis and classification of
types of social relationships.
Von Wiese’s view – the scope of sociology
is the study of forms of social
relationships.

Synthetic School
Sociology studies everything and
anything under the sun.
According to this group sociology is
a general science.
It wants sociology to be a synthesis
(mixture) of the social sciences or
a general science.

Synthetic School
Durkheim
Hobhouse
Sorokin
Karl
mannheim
Ginsberg
Alex Inkeles
J.B. Mckee

Synthetic School
Durkheim’sview– sociologycanbedivided
intothreemajor divisions
– Social Morphology
Isconcernedwithgeographicalorterritorialbasisof the
lifeof such as itsvolumeand density, localdistribution
andthe life.
– Social Physiology
Isdividedintoanumberof branchessuchasSociology of
religion,of Morals,of Laws,of Economiclife,of Language
etc.this activities related tothevarious social groups.
– General Sociology
Isdiscoverthegeneralcharacterof thesesocial facts.

Synthetic School
Hobhouse’sview– sociologyisasynthesisof
manysocialstudies– taskof threefold.
– Studiesinparticularpartof thefield.
– Interconnecttheresultsgivenbydifferentsocial
sciences.
– Interpretsociallifeasa whole.
Sorokin’sview-thesubjectmatterof sociology
– The study of relationship between different aspects
of social phenomena.
– The study of understanding the relationship
between the social and non-social aspects.
– The study of general characteristics of social
phenomena.

Synthetic School
Karl Mannheim’s view – two branches.
– Systematic and General Sociology.
Describes one by one the main factors of living
together as far as they may be found in every kind of
society.
– Historical Sociology.
Deals with the historical variety and actuality of
the general forms of society.
Historical Sociology falls into two main sections.
– Comparative Sociology
Deals with historical variations of the some
phenomena and tries to find by comparison general
features as separated from industrial features.
– Social Dynamics
Deals with the interrelations between the various social
factors and institutions in a certain given society,
for instance, in a primitive society.

Synthetic School
Alex Inkeles’s view;
– Social Analysis
– Primary Concepts of Social Life
– Basic Social Institutions
– Process
J.B. Mckee’s view
– Social Action, Social Structure, Social
Process and Social Institutions are
included in the scope of Sociology.

Importance of sociology
1. Sociology makes a Scientific Society.
2. Sociology studies the role of the institutions in the
development of the Individual.
3. The study of Sociology is indispensable for
understanding and planning of society.
4. Sociology is of great importance in the
solution of social problems.
5. Sociology has drawn our attention to the
essential worth and dignity of man.

Importance of sociology
6. Sociology has changed outlook with
regard to the problems of crime etc.
7. Sociology has made great
contribution to enrich human culture.
8. Sociology is of great importance in
the solution of international
problems.
9.Sociology is useful as a teaching
subject. 10.Sociology as a profession.

Thank you