This document provides an overview of sociology and its origins. It discusses how sociology studies human society and social problems/solutions. Key thinkers who shaped sociology are mentioned, including Auguste Comte who is considered the founder of modern sociology. Comte proposed sociology progress through theological, metaphysical and scientific stages of understanding society. The document also summarizes the structural-functional, social-conflict, and symbolic-interaction paradigms in sociological theory. It concludes with contact information for Naveed Siddiqui.

1. Naveed Siddiqui
PhD. M.B.E. PgDip Information Technology
Founder & CEO – Naveed Media Academy
www.facebook.com/NaveedAhmedSiddiqui33
www.linkedin.com/in/dr-naveed-siddiqui-191a4b2b
www.youtube.com/user/nvd30
www.youtube.com/user/NaveedAhmedSiddiqui3
nasiddiqui333@gmail.com
00971 56 237 4597

2. Sociology:
Perspective, Theory, and Method

3. The Sociological Perspective
• Sociology is the systematic
study of human society.
• The study of social problems
and Solutions.

4. Other Sociologists:
Peter Berger: Study of human society in a
disciplined way.
Nichol Aber Crombie: Study of the processes
of Companionship.
Oxford dictionary: Study of origin, history
and constitution of Human Society.

5. The Sociological Perspective
• The sociological perspective helps us
to see general social patterns in the
behavior of particular individuals.
• It encourages us to realize
that society guides our
thoughts and deeds — to see
the strange in the familiar.

6. Benefits of the Sociological
Perspective:
The sociological
perspective
helps us
critically assess
and challenge
“common sense”
ideas

7. Benefits of the Sociological
Perspective:
The sociological
perspective helps us
assess both
opportunities and
constraints in our
lives.

8. Benefits of the Sociological
Perspective:
The sociological perspective
empowers us to be active
participants in our society.
The sociological
perspective helps us to
live in a diverse world.

9. The Origins of Sociology
1. The rise of a factory-based industrial
economy
2. The emergence of great cities
3. Political changes

10. 1. The rise of a factory-based
industrial economy
• End of 18th century transformation
• Small scale manufacturing to
factories
• The change in the system of
production separated families and
weakened traditions.

11. 2. The emergence of great
cities
 Urban growth
 Social problems; Poverty, disease, Pollution,
Crime, Homelessness.
3. Political Change
 Dictatorship to democracy

12. The Origins of Sociology
August Comte (1798-1857)
Considered the Founder of Modern Sociology
Coined the phrase: Sociology (1838)
Described Sociology as having three stages:
Theological
Metaphysical
Scientific

13. Comte’s Three Stage:
1. Theological: Planets as gods. People used
supernatural or divine explanations to understand
society and the world. As Earthquakes
 Fetishism: People worship inanimate objects like trees,
stones, a piece of wood.
 Polytheism: use of many Gods, God of water, God of rain,
God of fire, God of air, God of earth.
 Monotheism: Single theistic entity is responsible for the
existence of the universe

14. 2. Metaphysical: Does not tell what there is but
what is possible.
3. Scientific: An approach to understand world
based on science

15. The Origins of Sociology
August Comte (1798-1857)
 Favored positivism — a way of
understanding based on science

16. The Origins of Sociology
August Comte (1798-1857)
The term sociology comes from:
Latin – socius (Associate)
Greek – logos (word)
---------------------------
“words about human associations”

17. Sociological Theory
A theory is a statement of how and why
specific facts are related.
The goal of sociological theory is to
explain social behavior in the real world.

18. The Structural–Functional
Paradigm
The structural-functional paradigm sees
society as a complex system whose parts work
together.
It focuses on stability.

19. The Social–Conflict
Paradigm
The social-conflict paradigm sees society
as an arena of inequality that generates
conflict and change.
The conflict paradigm is used to explain factors
such as the socioeconomic inequality, including
poverty and wealthy, ageism and sexism.

20. The Symbolic–Interaction
Paradigm
The symbolic-interaction paradigm sees
society as the product of the everyday
interactions of individuals.
It focuses on patterns of social interaction in
specific settings.

21. Naveed Siddiqui
PhD. M.B.E. PgDip Information Technology
Founder & CEO – Naveed Media Academy
www.facebook.com/NaveedAhmedSiddiqui33
www.linkedin.com/in/dr-naveed-siddiqui-191a4b2b
www.youtube.com/user/nvd30
www.youtube.com/user/NaveedAhmedSiddiqui3
nasiddiqui333@gmail.com
00971 56 237 4597