24-06-2014, 04:26 PM
Sociology as a Scientific Discipline
An Introduction to Sociology.docx (Size: 47.73 KB / Downloads: 13)
Introduction
Science refers to the logical, systematic methods by which knowledge is obtained and to the actual body of knowledge produced by these methods. The sciences are usually divided into two main branches: the natural-sciences; studies the physical and biological phenomena and social sciences-sciences; studies the various aspects if human behavior.
All sciences assume that there is some underlying order in the universe. They follow a pattern that is sufficiently regular for us to be able to make generalizations --- statements that apply not just to a specific case but to most cases of the same type. Generalizations are crucial to science because they place isolated, seemingly meaningless events in pattern we can understand. It than becomes possible to analyze relationships of cause and effect and thus to explain why something happens and to predict that it will happen again under the same conditions again in the future.
Sociology is able to employ the same methods of investigation that all sciences do, and use its finding to make reasonably reliable generalizations. Sociologists construct theories, collect analyze data, conduct experiments and make observations, keep careful records, and try to arrive at precise and accurate conclusions.
SCIENTIFIC STATUS OF SOCIOLOGY
Sociology is relatively less advance as a discipline than most of the natural sciences. There are two reasons for that. First; the scientific method has been used to study social behavior only in recent times. Second; and more important, the study of human behavior presents many problems. Sociologists are dealing with people. People are subjects who are self-aware and capable of changing their behavior and attitude when they choose to. Unlike rocks and other non loving things, people may be deliberately uncooperative. They may behave in unforeseen ways for private reasons of their own. They may change their behavior when they know they are being studied. Their behavior usually has extremely complex causes that may be difficult to pinpoint.
The natural science can generally offer more precise explanations and predications than sociology. But the accumulated results of sociological research are already extensive, solid
ORIGIONS OF SOCIOLOGY
The sociology or social thought is as old as society itself, yet the origins of sociology as a discipline lie entangled in 19th centaury Europe. Certain developments in Europe paved the way for the emergence of sociology as we have today. The most important of these events are as follow:
1.Enlightenment
2.FrenchRevolution
3.IndustrialRevolution
4.Colonialism
5.Developments of Social Sciences
ENLIGHTENMENT
The intellectual heritage of enlightenment which facilitated the way of sociology is discussed as under:
a. SOCIETY: A HUMAN, NOT DIVINE, AFFAIR:
Before enlightenment people believed that social structure was divinely devised. Anything from inequality to social disorder was believed to be due to God’s interference in human affairs.
The enlightenment thinkers were the first to understand that humans could alter society, eliminate poverty, crime, injustice and inequality etc. This concept greatly influenced the development of sociology in 19th centaury.
. FRENCH REVOLUTION
In 1789 the French Revolution began, and when it was finally over, Europe and the World were transformed. This also brought great changes to society and was largely responsible for the development of sociology after 1814 A.D. The French revolution also formed the basis for two important traditions which became integral part of its study.
. INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
The industrial revolution changed the European economy from agriculture based to more on manufacturing, trading and money based. It also provided greater social, cultural and political changes. These changes are as follow
COLONIALISM
The European colonies in Asia, Africa and America brought Europeans into close contact with the societies very different from their own. This gave birth to curiosity in Europeans to study these societies. The thinkers and scholars of the time showed keen interest in the nature of the newly discovered societies, this in turn inspired the development of sociology
DEVELOPMENT OF OTHER SOCIAL SCIENCES
The study of other social sciences like psychology, political science and economics greatly contributed to the birth of sociology. The development of these sciences encouraged interest in society. Within due time; the scientists, thinkers and scholars came to a notion that society and sociology needed to become a specialty area in its own right
A System With Parts
The parts of society, while performing different functions, work together to maintain the stability of the whole social system.
In order to understand the idea of "social system," it may be helpful to visualize a different kind of system. For example, biological organisms are systems. In fact, many sociologists use biological models to explain human society. The biological metaphor is successful in that it calls attention to how a social "organism" consists of various unique parts. Those parts, in turn, function together to support and maintain the whole system
Manifest Functions
1. Manifest Functions
Manifest functions refer to functions that are obvious.
Examples:
The manifest function of schools is to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic.
The manifest function of the military is to defend the nation.
The manifest function of criminal justice is to keep the streets safe for a society's citizens
Dysfunctions
A perspective that is highly concerned about order is by definition concerned about what happens when social order breaks down. Merton uses the term dysfunction, which refers to a negative consequence that may disrupt the system. Dysfunction also conjures up the notion that a social phenomenon can be functional in one setting and dysfunctional in another
The Conflict Perspective
Conflict theorists see society less as a cohesive system and more as an arena of conflict and power struggles. Instead of people working together to further the goals of the "social system,"
• People are seen achieving their will at the expense of others.
• People compete against each other for scarce resources.
• Basic inequalities between various groups is a constant theme of conflict theory.
• Power, or the lack of it, is also a basic theme of conflict theory.
• Since some people benefit at the expense of others, those who benefit use ideology to justify their unequal advantage in social relationships.
Marx is a conflict theorist. He argued that the struggle between social classes was the major cause of change in society. Much change, in fact, happens as rich people and poor people compete over scarce resources