CHAPTER I

Sociology and Society

 SOCIOLOGY

Is derived form two words

 Socius (Latin) – which means groups or partners

 Logus (Greek) – which means science or study

Hence sociology deals with the study of groups

 SOCIOLOGY
 is the scientific study of patterns of human interaction
that deals with the study of group life.

 It deals with the study of patterns and processes of

human relations.
 It deals with the study of current issues and problems
such as ethnic relations, family life, community life
and participation, social mobility, etc.
 A body of scientific knowledge with theories based on
scientific investigation rather than “Armchair
speculation”.
The Beginnings of Sociology
The Beginnings of Sociology

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
 An area of advancements in manufacturing
technology that paved the way to massive labor lay-
offs in Europe.
 It resulted to social unrest and massive
demonstrations.
 It signaled the beginning of vast changes in this
social world, in patterns of relationship among people
and in social life.
 It brought about an intellectual crisis in Europe.
 Auguste Comte ( 1798-1857 )
 Developed the first complete
approach to the scientific study of
society (coined the word sociology)
 “Father of Sociology”
 Published a book Positive
Philosophy (1855)
 Viewed that societies can be studied
using methods similar to those in the
Physical Sciences
 Positivism – emphasizes the
techniques of observation,
comparison and experimentation in
the development of knowledge
concerning the nature of society and
human action (the use of scientific
method).
Herbert Spencer ( 1820-1903 )
 Considered the society as a
living organism that grows.
He viewed the society as an
organism that evolves into
another animal. The society
must also take the course of
evolution like the Darwinian
theory.
 Social Evolution Theory – let
the society takes it course,
Unplanned Change is better
than planned change.
Unplanned change would
create a perfect society.
Emile Durkheim ( 1858-1919 )
 Functionalist
Perspective – A larger
system is composed of
subsystems and parts
that must work
harmoniously according
to their functions and
role to attain equilibrium
or balance
Karl Marx ( 1818-1883 )

 Conflict Theory – sees competition

and social conflict as forming the
basis of group or social life. It is also
the source of social change.

Thesis vs. Anti-thesis

Synthesis
Karl Marx ( 1818-1883 )
 Marx’s model of social evolution: History as
the history of class struggle resulting to social
change.
ANCIENT  FEUDAL  CAPITALISM

Through each period of history and societal

evolution, the exploited class comes to
recognize their exploitation and revolts
against those in power.
Max Weber ( 1864- 1920 )
“Symbolic Interactionism “

 The interactionist perspective

focuses on social life and
human behavior from the
standpoint of the individuals
involved in the day to day
interaction.

 It assumes that people bring

into each social situation
certain ideas about themselves
and about others.
Max Weber ( 1864- 1920 )

 People learn ideas from others through the

ongoing processes of symbolic interaction.
Through symbols, words, action and gestures –
people communicate the meanings of events,
situations and behavior.

 Social Action – occurs when people intend to act in

ways others expect. It is the behavior intended to
fulfill expectations.
 The Different Sources of Truth
Regarded by Social Philosophers
 The 5 Different Sources of Truth

TRADITION
 A perceived truth from what
has long been accepted as true.

AUTHORITY INTUITION
 An entity  As an
with the assumption
expertise and
KATOTOHANAN
from brilliant
specialization imagination to
in a certain naïve
field. guesswork.
COMMON SENSE
 A convenient catchall
which includes casual Science
observation plus any or all
of the above sources.
Sociology in the Philippines
Sociology in the Philippines
 Fr. Valentin Marin OP – introduced sociology as a
subject in the academe of the University of Santo
Tomas in 1896.
 It was initiated in the University of the Philippines in
1911 by Prof. Murray Bartlet.

 The Siliman University was one of the first to include

sociology in their curriculum.
 Sociology started as a social philosophy perspective
that continued up to the 1950’s
 Serafin Macaraig – the first Filipino to receive a PhD.
In sociology in 1920 from the University of Wisconsin.
◦ He introduced the social problem orientation.
Sociology in the Philippines
 Modern Sociology started in the Philippines after the
World War II
 Many Filipinos Went to Europe and America to study
sociology and went back to the Philippines as
Fulbright professors, stirring the social interest of the
people.

 There was strengthening of course offerings in

universities like:
University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila and
Xavier University. Other universities took sociology as
a part of their curriculum.
Sociology in the Philippines

 1952 – Philippine Sociological Society was

organized. It published the journal Philippine
Sociological Review

◦ The Philippine Sociological Society in the beginning

drew members from social sciences but the officers
were mostly sociologists and anthropologists.
Sociology among the Other
Social Sciences
Sociology among the Other Social
Sciences
 Sociology is a pure social science… Pure Social
Science > provides verifiable facts and fundamental
principles, foundations upon which the applied social
science base their program. SOCIAL WORK is an
applied social science

 Pure Social Sciences are: Economics,

Political Science, Anthropology, Psychology
and Sociology.
Sociology among the Other Social
Sciences
 The science related to sociology, but which differ
from its emphasis and modes of analysis are…

 Anthropology

 Physical Anthropology – stresses the biological

sciences and focuses on the origins and the
evolutionary aspects of human beings as well as
their behavioral characteristics.

 Cultural Anthropology – is concerned with the

study of total societies
Sociology among the Other Social
Sciences
 Psychology – focuses on individual behavior,
examining the mind as well as the mental processes
of the individual including learning, perception and
motivation.
 Economics – the study of economic life of humans
and is focused on the various dimensions of wealth,
such as its production, distribution and
consumption.
 Political Science – it studies the political behavior of
humans and focuses on the various aspects of
government, political institutions, political processes
and political parties.
Careers in Sociology
Careers in Sociology
 Social Work
 Profession in the fields of medicine, law,
engineering and clergy
 Civil Service Position
 Embassies
 Government Agencies
 In teaching, research and administration
 Consultants in Social Welfare organization
 Research
The Characteristics of the
Scientific Approach
The Characteristics of the
Scientific Approach

 Verifiable Evidence
 Factual observations which others can see,
measure, weigh or check for accuracy
 an avenue/ tool for follow-up studies
The Characteristics of the
Scientific Approach
 Ethical Neutrality
 Related to objectivity
 One must remain neutral in the interpretation of one’s
findings, without being influenced by his value judgment or
his conviction about his own group or of himself.
 Accuracy
 It refers to the correctness of a statement
 Precision
 It refers to the exactness of a quantity and the degree or
measurement.

 It is Systematic
>working in accordance with a method of organization
The Characteristics of the
Scientific Approach
 It Records
 The characteristic of having the ability of storing
information and data using accepted technology.

 Objectivity
 It means that the data must be presented,
analyzed and interpreted independently of the
researcher’s own beliefs and value judgments.
 It is the ability of the researcher to give an
account of things as they are.
The Characteristics of the
Scientific Approach
 It has Trained Observation
 Observation must be undertaken by trained
observers in the field in order to make research
credible.

 Must Identify Controlled Conditions

 A characteristic where scientific observation is
conducted within situations that are manageable.
That is the end of Chapter 1…..