Sociology emerged in the 19th century in response to modernity and increasing social changes. While it has roots in early philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, sociology aims to systematically study social life, behavior, and institutions. Some key founders of sociology include Auguste Comte, who coined the term sociology and emphasized the scientific study of society, Herbert Spencer who applied evolutionary theory to sociology, Karl Marx who emphasized class conflict and economic determinism, and Emile Durkheim who studied how social forces influence behavior and social order. Sociology analyzes both small-scale social interactions and large-scale social systems and structures to understand human behavior and social change.

1. Soc Scie
Society and Culture with
Family Planning, Population,
Education and Development
Prepared by:
Ballesteros, Perlita M.
BSEd – English
Core Gateway College, Inc.

2. 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.

3. Plato – (429 – 347 BC) – according to him societies
are build out of individual necessity, people form a
community because 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.

4. NATURE AND IMPORTANCE OF SOCIOLOGY
Sociology is a broad discipline that analyzes behaviour 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.

5. 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
society’s progress and development.
Is an indispensable vehicle toward world understanding of issues and
conflicts, globalization, development and world peace.
Pave the way for the new discoveries and inventions, as human’s 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

6. 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.

7. BRANCHES OF SOCIOLOGY
Socio-economics – concerns the relationship between economic activities and
social life. Economics focuses on wealth, trade, consumption and behaviour
patterns of society.
Sociology of Education – concerned with the role and function of the
educational system in the society.
Sociology of the Family – studies very foundation of the family as an
institution and how it relates to its environment.
Criminology – studies the nature and causes of crime and deviant behaviour,
activities of criminals and the criminal justice system.
Sociology of Religion – concerned with the role of religion in society,
specifically its practices, such as spirituality and community and religion in
multicultural societies.
Industrial Sociology – tackles theoretical and empirical issues, historical
backgrounds of work and development and universal themes.
Political Sociology – study the relationship between the society and politics.
Environmental Sociology – study the social behaviour of man toward physical
environment and the social organization, such as factors that lead to
environmental issues and problems.

8. SOCIOLOGY – is derived from the French word
“sociologie” coined by Auguste Comte who 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 an understanding possible future 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 behaviour in
relation to social system, how they work, how they
change and consequently affect other peoples’ lives.

9. PROPONENTS
OF
SOCIOLOGY

10. 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.
Theological Stage – being with the guidance of the church, human is
able to fulfill the divine plan to live in accordance with God’s will.
Metaphysical Stage – during this stage, the forces of nature is more
emphasized about situations of people in social events and other
environmental-natural issues.
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.

11. HERBERT SPENCER (1820-1903) - British philosopher who
advances 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

12. 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 the parts of the society. He predicted 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.

13. 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 examines 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
behaviour 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 societies influence no longer checks individual
passions (Durkheim, 1951).

14. MAX WEBER (1864 1920) - Weber is a German
economist, historian and philosopher. He believes 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 works meaning
“understanding,” Weber was more interested in analyzing
the meaning of a social pattern that in looking for
universal laws of human behaviour (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.
References: Society and Culture With Family Planning by De Leaño and Corpuz; Encyclopedia Americana; Wikipedia
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Labels: Society and Culture (1st Semester) 2014 - 2015

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