Beginning and Development of Sociology

- Sociology is the youngest of the social sciences.

- All these “founders” of sociology were basically social philosophers.
- They developed grand system of thought, but did little research, verification or
measurement.
- They did not collect and classify facts and the develop the grand theory from these facts—
they thought of the grand theory and sought for facts to support the theory.
- They called for scientific investigation, but did little—yet they look for necessary first step,
for the idea of a science of sociology had to precede the building of one.
- Courses in Sociology appeared in many universities in the 1890’s.
- The American Journal of Sociology began publication in 1895.
- The American Sociological Society (now the American Sociological Association) was
organized in 1905.
- Most of the sociologist at the turn of the century were social reformers—many were either
ministers or minister’s sons and nearly all were of rural background.
- Urbanization and industrialization were creating grave social problems—sociologists
group for scientific solutions.
- They saw sociology as a scientific guide to social progress.
- Second generation of pioneers—Durkheim, Simmel, Cooley, Weber, Park, Thomas and
others—built in these foundations.
- They proceeded with the theoretical formulations and empirical studies necessary for a
scientific development of sociology.
- Sociology was becoming a body of scientific knowledge with its theories based on
scientific observation rather than on armchair speculation.

Auguste Come (France)

- Coined the word “Sociology” in hi Positive Philosophy published n 1842.
- Believed that science of sociology should be based on systematic observation and
classification, not on authority and speculation.

Herbert Spencer (England)

- Published his principles of Sociology in 1876.
- Applied the theory of evolution to human society and evolved a grand theory of “social
evolution” which is no longer accepted, but helped to launch sociology as a field of study.

Lester F. Ward (America)

- Published his Dynamic Sociology in 1883, calling for social profess through intelligent
social action.
Sociology among the other Social Science
- Human knowledge may be classified into three board fields—the natural science, social
science and the humanities.
- The social science are related to both the natural science and the humanities.
- The natural sciences provide the method of inquiry in the social science, the humanities,
the subject matter.
- The natural and social science may further be divided into the “pure” and “applied”
sciences.
- Pure sciences are mainly concerned with the pursuit of knowledge and truth for their own
sake without considering their practical use—economics, political science, anthropology,
and sociology.
- The applied sciences are directed towards the search for solution and practical problems—
social work, public administration, management, education and ethics.
- Pure science provide verifiable facts and fundamental principles, foundation upon which
the applied science base their program.
- The applied sciences bring to our science new observation and new data, so that new
theories may be worked out and old ones redefined.
Economics
- Economic activities of man involve the production, distribution and consumptions of
material goods.

Political Science
- Concerned with the development of principles in the conduct of government.
- Sociology is interested mainly in the recurrent forms of social interaction in all aspects of
social life.

History
- Uses the sociological approach to search for the underlying forces that influence man’s
behavior.
- Sociology makes use of the data and information that is provided by the historians.

Social Psychology, Psychology and Sociology

- Brought together to fully understand the significance of the individual’s experience as he
develops a personality.
- Studies how personality determines the nature and function of a particular group of people.

Anthropology
- Studies the total cultural pattern of a society, tribe or group.
- Mainly interested in the total culture of the simple societies.
- Sociology studies the advanced and modernized societies.