Scope of sociology

Every science has its own field of inquiry. It becomes very difficult to study a science
systematically without fixation of its probable boundary. Similarly, the limitation of sociology or
scope of sociology cannot be making limited or fixed because society is dynamic. In general
meaning, Scope signifies the area of study. But, there is controversy among the sociologists
about its area of study. One group of sociologists headed by German sociologist Georg Simmel
argues that the scope of sociology should be particular and clear as other social sciences. On the
other side, another group of sociologists argue that the field of social investigation is too wide for
any one science and that if any progress is to be made there must be specialization. The function
of sociology would be interrelate results of the special social sciences and to deal with the
general conditions of social life. In the opinion of this group sociology is general science. V.F.
Calberton writes "since sociology is so elastic science, it is difficult to determine just where its
boundary begin and end." Since, sociology is a youngest social science. Basically there are two
main school of thought developed among sociologists. Let us discuss these two different views
about the scope of sociology.

1. Particularistic or Formalistic school of thought: -

According to this school of thought, sociology is pure and independent social science. As a
matter of fact, sociology limited field of enquiry and deals with those problems which are not
dealt with other social sciences. This school of thought has been formulated by German
sociologist Georg Simmel. The main advocators of this school of thought are Von Wiese, Robert
Vilerkandt, Max Weber and Ferdinand Tonnies. They are of view of that the sociological
analysis should be limited only with the human relationship. Sociology as a separate field of
study describes, classifies, and analyzes the different forms of social relationships. It is
concerned with the ultimate form of mental or psychic relationship which bounds men together
in the society.

The leading figure of this school of thought Georg Simmel is of view that sociology should be
confine its study to formal behavior instead of studying all behavior. According to him sociology
is a special social science which describes, classifies, analyzes and delineates the forms of social
behavior.

Vierkandt another leading sociologist of this school of thought says that sociology is the special
branch of knowledge which concerned with the ultimate forms of mental or psychic relationship
which link men to one another in a society.

Max Weber is of view that the main aim of sociology is to interpret or understand social
behavior. Indeed not all human behavior and interactions are social. Sociology is, according to
him, concerned with the analysis and classification of social relationships. According to Von
Wiese, the scope of sociology is the study of social relationships. Ferdinand Tonnies forwards
the view of pure sociology.
Thus, in this school of thought, sociology is limited with one specific aspect of social
relationship i.e. their forms if their abstract nature. The ultimate aim of sociology is to interpret
or understanding of social behavior.

The formalistic school of thought can be criticized on the following grounds.

a. The formal school has limited the field of sociology to merely abstract forms. Sociology
besides studying the general forms of social relationships should also study the concrete
contents.
b. The conception of pure sociology is impracticable. . The formal school has conceived of
pure sociology but none of the sociologist has so far been able to construct a pure sociology.
c. Sociology alone does not study social relationships. Sociology is not the only science
which studies social relationships but some other social sciences like economics, political
science are also interested in the study of social relations.
d. Abstract forms separated from concrete cannot be studied.

B. Synthetic school of thought

The synthetic school has developed as a criticism to the formal school of thought. According to
this school of thought, the subject matters of sociological analysis cannot be limited within the
field of pure or independent social science. The synthetic school of thought wants to make
sociology a synthesis of the social sciences or general science. The leading figures of this school
of thought are Emile Durkheim, Sorokin, and Morris Ginsberg etc. They are of view of that since
all the parts of social life are interrelated. So, the study of one aspect cannot be separated from
each other. Thus, sociology should study the social life as a whole.

Emile Durkheim is of view that sociology has three divisions which are as follows:

 Social Morphology: - It is concerned with geographical or territorial basis of the life of

people. It deals with the social organizations and the problem of population such as
volume, density, local distribution of population.
 Social physiology: - It is divided into a number of branches such as sociology of religion,
knowledge, economic life, language etc. Every branches of sociology deal with a set of
social fact.
 General sociology: - General sociology discovers the general character of social facts. It
determines whether there are any general social laws established by the special social
science are the particular expression.

According to P. A. Sorokin, the subject matters of sociology are as follows:

 The study of relationship among different aspect of society.

 The study of relation between the social and nonsocial.
 The study of general features of social phenomena.
Morris Ginsberg is of view that social morphology, social processes and social pathology are the
major areas of sociological study. According to him, social morphology studies population
structure, social structure, social institutions etc. Similarly, social control deals with different
means of control. Social process deals with the different social processes such as cooperation,
competition, conflict etc.

Although there are some common subject matter of sociology which are as follows:

• Social organization: It refers to the associational groups such as social groups,

communities and collectivities. In a specific sense, it represents bureaucracy like that of a
bank.

• Social institutions: Institutions refer to the established code of conduct for carrying out
group activities. It is the set of rules and procedures, which provides guideline for human
activities. It is the way of doing things thorough which the main concerns and activities
are organized and social needs are met.

• Social processes: - Social processes refer to the repeated interaction, events etc. Such as
cooperation, conflict, competitions etc.

• Social interaction: - Social interaction refers to the way in which individual respond to
each other. In others words, the action done in response to others is called interaction.
And sociology should study the social interaction.

• Social relation: - Social relation refers to a social bond which brought individual together
such as caste, class, ethnicity, marriage, blood, nationality, humanity etc.

• Study of social problems: Street child. Poverty, unemployment, drug addiction,

alcoholism, prostitution, human trafficking, divorce, etc.

• Social structure: - Social structure refers to the ordered arrangement of interrelated parts:
groups, institutions, associations, etc. It is overall composition of society which directs
and restricts human behaviour.