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SOCIETY AND CULTURE with FAMILY PLANNING

HISTORY OF SOCIOLOGY
Although sociology has its roots in the works of philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, and Confucius,
it is a relatively new academic discipline. It emerged in the early nineteenth century in response
to the challenges of modernity. Increasing mobility and technological advances resulted in the
increasing exposure of people to cultures and societies different from their own, of which
impacts included the breakdown of traditional norms and customs and warranted a revised
understanding of how the world works. Sociologists responded to these changes by trying to
understand what holds social groups together and also to explore possible solutions to the
breakdown of social solidarity.
Plato (429 347 BC) according to him societies are build out of individual necessity, people
form a communitybecause of their interdependence on one another, therefore are formed for
mutual benefit
Aristotle (384 322 BC) he described man as political animal by nature and regarded politics
as similar to an organism, that this organism comprises parts none of which can exist without
the others
Confucius (551 -479 BC) he believed that it is intrinsic to every individual to be in the company
of other people, that in the society man is able to maximize his full potential; he stressed that
doing what is right or wrong is a matter of choice to every individual
NATURE AND IMPORTANCE OF SOCIOLOGY
Sociology is a broad discipline that analyzes behavior that shapes the society. It involves
systematic methods of investigation and the evaluation of theories based on rational ( as
stressed reasons and theories resulted from logical inference) and empirical ( using approach
that gives emphasis to experience and facts from observation and experimentation) and general
science. Research studies are carried through factual, comparative, developmental or
theoretical questions. Sociology is independent, social, categorical, pure, abstract and
generalizing.
Sociology studies as a branch of any science, like philosophy, or political philosophy or history. It
confines itself to statement about what is, not what should be or ought to be categorically. As
pure science its aim is to acquire knowledge regardless of its usefulness. It is abstract as it may
tackle all topics that may concern society not only in particular. The area of inquiry of sociology
is general not specialized. It is concerned with human interaction and human life in general. It
only studies human activities in a general way.

Readings from http://sociologyanthropology.blogspot.com/2010/03/nature-of-sociology.html


Prem Shresh , Sunday, March 7, 2010 7:22 PM

Sociology
Serves as tool in disseminating information in what is happening around us
Helps every individual in the society examine and understand and realize how and why people
behave such
Helps in the resolution of social problems which are believe to hinder societys progress and
development
Is an indispensable vehicle toward world understanding of issues and conflicts, globalization,
development and world peace
Paves the way for the new discoveries and inventions, as humans culture is greatly enhanced and
cultivated and adjust to present condition
Examines the relationship between the different structures and institutions in a society and how it
contributes to the development of its individual member
Rationalizes the existence of social group as an important factor in social development
Macrosociology is a division of Sociology that analyzes social system and population on a
large scale and often at a high level of abstraction. It can also be the analysis of large
collectivities that pertains to the state, social class, the economy, the culture and society. It deals
with issues such as war, Third World nations, poverty and environmental degradation.
Hence macrosociology focuses on social structures and organizations and the relationships
within them.
Microsociology on the other hand concerns everyday human social interactions on a small
scale, particularly on what people say, think and do when they come together. It deals with
issues on gender roles, nature of the family and immigration.

BRANCHES OF SOCIOLOGY
1.
Socio-economics concerns the relationship between economic activities and social
life. Economics focuses on wealth, trade, consumption and behavior patterns of society.
2.
Sociology of Education concerned with the role and function of the educational
system in the society.
3.
Sociology of the Family studies very foundation of the family as an institution and
how it relates to its environment.
4.
Criminology studies the nature and causes of crime and deviant behavior, activities of
criminals and the criminal justice system.
5.
Sociology of Religion concerned with the role of religion in society, specifically its
practices, such as spirituality and community and religion in multicultural societies.

6.
Industrial Sociology tackles theoretical and empirical issues, historical backgrounds
of work and development and universal themes.
7.

Political Sociology study the relationship between the society and politics.

8.
Environmental Sociology study the social behavior of man toward physical
environment and the social organization, such as factors that lead to environmental issues and
problems.
SOCIOLOGY is derived from the French word sociologie coined by Auguste Comtewho
was generally considered as the Father of Sociology. Sociology came from Latin word socius
meaning group and Greek word logus which means study.
-

Sociology is understanding possible futures of people, drastic changes, continuous acquisition


of knowledge what holds societies together, what makes them bend under the impact of major
forces, such as war and migration. (KORNBLUM 2003)
It is a systematic study of social life and behavior in relation to social system, how they work,
how they change and consequently affect other peoples lives.

PROPONENTS OF SOCIOLOGY
AUGUSTE COMTE (1789-1857) best known for his six-volume Positive Philosophy - an attempt
to remedy the social malaise of the French Revolution (political crisis, economic breakdown and religious
reform), calling for a new social doctrine based on the sciences. Comte was a major influence on 19th-century
thought, influencing the work of social thinkers such as Karl Marx, John Stuart Mill, and George Eliot. He presented
the three stages in understanding society.

1.
Theological Stage being with the guidance of the church, human is able to fulfill the
divine plan to live in accordance with Gods will
2.
Metaphysical Stage during this stage, the forces of nature is more emphasized about
situations of people in social events and other environmental-natural issues
3.
Scientific Stage positivism defined as path to understanding the world based on
science, emphasis on techniques of observation, comparison and experimentation in the
development of knowledge regarding the nature of society and human actions

HERBERT SPENCER (1820-1903) - British philosopher who advance the thesis that evolution
accounts for the development of social and natural life. According to him societies developed
through the process of struggles for existence and survival of the fittest.

Best Known For:


Developing and applying evolutionary theory to philosophy, psychology and the study of
society.

Helping to develop the functionalist perspective, one of the major theoretical frameworks
in sociology.

His political thoughts, primarily his defense of natural rights and for criticisms of utilitarian
positivism, his philosophy of utilitarianism is individualistic by nature preaching liberty and
happiness as the goal of man, considering that man has God-given obligation to exercise his
faculties and asserts his rights that accepts the limitations imposed by the liberties of others

KARL MARX ( 1818 - 1883) philosopher, economist, and a social activist who stressed that
history is a continuous clash among conflicting ideas and forces between parts of society. He
believed that conflict between haves (burgeouis) and have-nots (proletariat) is necessary in
order to produce social change; that private property and capitalism is the root causes of
poverty. Two of his legacies were:
Economic Determinism wherein economic relationships provide the foundation on which all
other social and political agreement are built. He believed that family structure, law and religion
would be developed after adopting the economic structure.
The Dialectic he viewed change as a product of conductions and conflicts between part of the
society. He predicted the that the conflict between the ruling class and the working class would
lead to a new economic system. The dialectic model maintains that conflict is the only factor that
can bring change to a society.
EMILE DURKHEIM ( 1858 1919 ) Durkheim is a French intellectual who devoted himself
in understanding the stability of society and the importance of social participation for individual
happiness. The lasting legacy of Durkherm is a theory that exsamines the positive contributions
of social patterns. this and his other works allow us to see the importance of both other and
change in society. One of Durkheims major concerns was the balance between regulation and
freedom. According to his classic study entitled, suicide, when society over regulates and there
is less freedom, fatalistic suicide occurs. It happen when human dehavior is so confined by
social institutions that people cannot exercise their independence. When there is too much
freedom and less regulation, anomic suicide happens. That is when societys influence no
longer checks individual passions (Durkheim, 1951).
MAX WEBER (1864 1920) - Weber is a German economist, historian and philosopher. He
belive that to understand the behavior of a person, people have to understand the meaning of
the individual attributes of that behavior. Webers work was the basis for Verstehen sociology,
which emphasizes the subjective meaning of human actions. verstehen is a German work
meaning understanding, Weber was more interested in analyzing the meaning of a social
pattern that in looking for universal laws of human bahavior (martindale,1978).

Weber also made mention of value free sociology, an idea that is concerned with establishing
what is end and what is not to be. This approach is generally advocated by modern sociologists.

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