Is Sociology a Science Essay - 1956 Words

By the definition, science is the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment (Oxford dictionary). This crude definition is elaborated further by a world-famous sociologist Anthony Giddens as ‘the scientific study of human social life, groups, and societies. It is dazzling and compelling enterprise, as its subject matter is our own behavior as social beings. The scope of sociological study is extremely wide, ranging from the analysis of passing encounters between individuals on the street to the investigation of global social processes such as the rise of Islamic fundamentalism.’ (Giddens: 2006) Before the rise in†¦show more content†¦He believed that all scientific methods share a common logical method aimed to reveal universal laws. Therefore Comte believed that sociology should apply the same strict scientific methods to the study of society that physics or chemistry use to study the physical world. He called all sciences the â€Å"law of the three stages† which claims that world has passed through three stages: theological (guided by religious ideas and the belief that society was an expression of God’s will), metaphysical (this stage is modification of the first one, from supernatural to natural. The beginning of a world that questioned religion and authority.), and positive (the final stage compared to earlier stages is truly scientific, and what is now understood while we peak of an explanation of facts is simply the establishment of a connection between single phenomena and some general facts, the number of which continually diminishes with the progress of science.) (Comte 1855: 26) In a very similar manner to the other social sciences, sociology is rather distinctive from natural sciences. Firstly, it is impossible to collect data on social facts as opposed to the physical world. Social facts, unlike the natural ones, are not objective. On the contrary, social facts are reproducible as well as created by humans. Secondly, it is not only human beingsShow MoreRelatedIs Sociology a Science1655 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"The study of sociology cannot and should not be seen as scientific† To what extent do sociological arguments and evidence support this view? (33 marks) The debate about whether sociology can be represented as a science has existed for many years. Comte; who first used the word sociology argued that sociology should be based on the methodology of the natural sciences. He argues that the application of natural science methodology to the study of society would produce a ‘positive science of society’Read MoreSociology : Social Science And Sociology1386 Words   |  6 Pagesto the history of sociology, it was the nineteenth century that sociology emerged, with the word ‘ sociology ’ appeared in the Cours de philosophie Positive Book 4[ Auguste Comte,1838 Cours de philosophie Positive] by Comte in 1838. The social forces, however, were complicated actually, which included both social, economical, cultural and even a little bit of political or religious elements. This essay explains these factors in the following part. 2.1 Social Science and Sociology The philosophesRead MoreSociology as a Science Essay1149 Words   |  5 Pages Sociology emerged in the eighteenth century after a period of intense cultural, social and economic changes. As people began to try to understand these changes, there came a period called the Enlightenment. This is also considered by Hamilton (1992) to be a â€Å"time characterised by the development of distinctively modern forms of thought about society and the realm of the social.† The Enlightenment encouraged a new way of thinking marked by application of reason, experienceRead MoreSociology : A Social Science850 Words   |  4 Pages The field of sociology is vastly different than other disciplines. When we look at social problems, sociology looks deep into the problem to find the basis relaying back to the relationship between individuals and society. â€Å"As a social science, sociology offers an objective and systematic approach to understanding the causes of social problems.† (Leon-Guerrero, 2014, p 5) When we look at determining which social problems are significant or not, we rely on social constructionism. Social constructionismRead MoreSociology and Other Sciences7090 Words   |  29 PagesSOCIOLOGY AND OTHER SCIENCES Sociology deals with society [people];how people interact, their culture, norms, values just like other social sciences like psychology, economics, psychology which also deal with people and how they behave, their mental processes. There is also a relationship between sociology and economics which is another social science. economics deals with the production of goods and services and how they are distributed to people just like sociology which also consider how theRead MoreSociology : Science As X3860 Words   |  16 PagesDecember 19, 2014 Sociology 191V – Science As X Science as â€Å"The Normalizer† I have not lived in a society where homosexuality is not visible and a popular topic in both the scientific and sociological community. Growing up in Los Angeles meant that I was exposed to a culture that, in general, allowed the homosexual population to classify themselves differently and pursue their desired lifestyles, but I had never really considered how much gay presence has changed. Studying sociology at UCLA has introducedRead MoreSociology : The Science Of Society2944 Words   |  12 PagesSOCIOLOGY Sociology may be defined as: (1) the science of society; (2) the study of human behavior in social context; (3) the study of social interaction and groups; or (4) a systematic understanding of social interactions, organization, and change. SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS Social institutions are a system of behavioral and relationship patterns that are densely interwoven and enduring, and function across an entire company. They regulate and structure the behavior of individuals by way of their normativeRead MoreEssay on Sociology and Social Sciences1144 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿The Social Sciences Complete and submit this assignment by the due date to receive full credit. (7 points) 1. Rank the seven social sciences (anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology) according to what you believe is their importance and influence on the people in a modern society. Answer: 1.Psychology (How humans think influences most, if not all of the social sciences.)   2.Sociology (This helps figure out how society thinks. If you understandRead MoreSociology and The Natural Sciences Essay1067 Words   |  5 PagesSociology is the study of society as well as the pursuit of knowledge regarding human social activities however, the entity’s legitimacy as a science is a concept worth discussion. Although sociology is different at face value than the natural sciences, the two possess fundamental similarities by which problems are recognized and explained. With the explanation of why sociology is a science, the next step would be to specify what type of science sociology is and how it relates to the natural sciencesRead MoreEmile Durkheim and The Science of Sociology Essay1294 Words   |  6 Pagesa long family line of rabbis, he had planned to follow in that profession. Durkheim was known as the Father of Sociology. He was a liberal, a modernist, and a nationalist. He was a very ambitious man; this ambition was illustrated by the accomplishme nts he made over the course of his life. During the conflict surrounding the Dreyfus Affair, Durkheim used the new field of sociology to try to make sense of society and the world around him. The Dreyfus Affair was a government cover up framing