Deepak Gautam

1. COURSE CODE:SFM 708
COURSE TITLE:SOCIETY, CULTURE & FORESTRY
CREDIT HOUR:2
By Deepak Sir (IOF,Pokhara)
Society: Web of social relationship

2. INTRODUCTION
SOCIOLOGY:
 Auguste Comte (1798-1857), a French philosopher,
coined the term ‘ Sociology’.
 He introduced the work ‘sociology’ for the first
time in his famous work “ positive philosophy”.
 Traditionally, he is regarded as the father of
sociology.
 Later Emile Durkheim (1858-1917), Herbert
Spencer (1820-1903), Max Weber (1864-1920) gave
contribution to promote sociology.
 Thus, they are called four founding fathers of
sociology.

3.  Sociology is the youngest of the social science.
 The term sociology is derived from the Latin
words ‘societus’ means society & from the Greek
word ‘logos’ means study.
 Therefore, we say the study of society is called
sociology.
 The major concern of sociology is society and
hence it is popularly known as the “ Science of
society”.
Sociology is the scientific study of society,
including patterns of social relationship, social
interaction and culture.

4. Definition of sociology:
 Auguste comte defines sociology as “ The science of social
phenomena”.
 Herbert Spencer defines sociology as “ The studies of inter
relationship between parts of society”. Etc.
The importance of sociology :
 It is helpful in providing scientific knowledge about entire
human society.
 It is helpful in providing labour problems.
 It is helpful in study tradition.
 It is helpful in national unity.
 It is helpful in solving social problems
 It is helpful in rural development.

5.  Society is derived from the latin words “ Socius”
that means companionship or friendship.
Maclever defines society as: “A web of social
relationship”.
 Prof. Wright defines it as: “Society is not a group of
people and it is the system of relationship that exist
between the individual of group”.
 Society: The aggregate of people living together in
a more or less ordered community.

6. Differences between society and community:
1) A definite geographical area is not necessary for society but, a
definite geographical area is essential for a community.
2) Community Sentiment or a sense of "we feeling" is not essential in a
society;
3) Society is wider; there can be more than one community in a
society. Community smaller than society.
4) Society is abstract. It is a network of social relationships which
cannot see or touched. On the other hand, community is concrete.
It is a group of people living in a particular area. We can see this
group and locate its existence.
5) In a community, common interests and common objectives are
necessary. People in a community live together for achievement of
common interests and common objectives. On the other hand,
common interests and common objectives are not necessary in
society.
6) Society involves both like-ness and difference. Both common and
diverse interests are present in society. But, likeness is more
important than difference in community.

7. 1.1 Concept of culture and its relevance for NRM
Culture: According to the Herskovits ‘ Culture is the
manmade part of the environment”
Resource becomes resource when people/culture give
values to some natural products. Such as
 Economic: Yarsagumba
 Social: prestige conferring (giving/award)
plants/animals.
 Religious: Bar/peepal
 Aesthetic: Cactus

8. Based on different analysis culture can be divided
into two types, they are:
• Material Culture : It comprise of concrete, tangible
things such as House, Furniture, car, Utensils,
equipments, Machine etc.
• Non-Material Culture: It includes intangible and
abstract things such as knowledge, Art, belief,
Attitudes, Skills, Customs, Values, Norms etc