Sociology\'S Nature AND Scope PDF

Preview

Summary

The term "society" refers to a relatively self-sufficient, typically large group of people who maintain direct or indirect contact with one another via a shared culture. Culture is generally defined as the shared language, beliefs, objectives, artefacts, and experiences that combine to create an ide...

Description

SOCIOLOGY'S NATURE AND SCOPE

Sociology is the study of society or social life, as well as group interaction and social behaviour. Societal and cultural concepts The term "society" refers to a relatively self-sufficient, typically large group of people who maintain direct or indirect contact with one another via a shared culture. Culture is generally defined as the shared language, beliefs, objectives, artefacts, and experiences that combine to create an identifiable pattern. In other words, culture is a way of life for a society. Sociology's Origins Sociology emerged as a distinct social science in nineteenth-century Europe, with the goal of studying society. Auguste Comte, Spencer, and Emile Durkheim, among other social thinkers, sought to establish the concept of society as a distinct subject of study. They looked at society as a whole - as something greater than the sum of its parts. Society is more than its members' actions, thoughts, values, beliefs, and wishes. Although society is a complex and abstract reality, all human beings live within it. A sociologist is interested in the study of social behaviour in groups, large or small, and places a premium on comprehending contemporary social life. The term 'general' has been used because other social science disciplines focus on more narrowly defined topics. A political scientist, for example, studies the functions and activities of governments, while an economist studies the production and distribution of goods. However, it is difficult to draw an exact line of distinction. Social psychology, social anthropology, political science, and economics are all broadly concerned with human social life. Due to sociology's relative youth in comparison to philosophy, economics, and political science, it is frequently confused with social work. Sociology is a discipline within social work that is used to analyse and comprehend social problems. Social work is concerned with assisting those who are socially isolated, physically disabled, and so forth. Sociology is not concerned with the reformation of society in general or with social planning or directed change in particular. Sociological understanding and research can aid in the formulation of development policies and programmes by assisting in better planning and identifying avenues and means of acceptance for improved practises. Sociologists, it is widely accepted, do not intervene in social processes. They are supposed to be value-neutral, that is, they should be free of bias or prejudice when analysing social behaviour. However, there are some who question this at the moment and believe that sociologists must play a more active role in the development process. Sociology has been defined as the study of social life, group interaction, and social behaviour. Sociology is interested in the organisation and functioning of societies or social groups in order to comprehend social life. Social Organizations

Just as every human being is born into a society, social life is lived in groups, large or small, throughout the world. The term 'group' is used in a variety of contexts. There could be a group watching a game or a group of people crossing a street. The group is viewed differently in sociology. As previously stated, sociology's primary focus is on human social behaviour. This results in an examination of how people relate to one another or interact with one another. As a result, the social group would have to possess the following characteristics: i)a collection of individuals (two or more); ii)patterned interaction (i.e., social relations exhibit a degree of regularity as a result of shared beliefs, values, and norms); and iii)the interaction persists over time. The groups are formed to address specific human needs. Survival is a fundamental need, and a family, as an example of a group, enables us to meet this need. Individuals cannot meet all of their needs. The needs are met through the groups. We derive numerous benefits from group living, and as a result, belonging to the group becomes critical. A group's solidarity is contingent upon its interaction frequency and emotional attachment. Social Groups of Various Types Social groups are classified into two broad categories according to the degree of attachment an individual has to a group. There are two major classifications: I primary and (ii) secondary. i)A primary group is one in which members have extremely close or intimate relationships and are emotionally involved. Additionally, it has been defined as primary because it is this group that is primarily responsible for the development of an individual's social ideas. We can proceed to a more precise definition based on the description above. A person's personality is intertwined with a primary group. The family is the best example of a primary group. By analysing one's behaviour within the family and the functions that the family performs for each individual member, one can appreciate the critical role of a primary group in shaping the members' ideas, beliefs, and norms. Primary groups (family, play groups, and a community, for example) also serve as a bridge between the individual and the larger society. ii)In addition to the primary group, secondary groups exist. Members of the secondary group engage in a very narrow range of activities. The secondary group's relationships are more casual, impersonal, and purpose-driven. A large college's student body is a secondary group that interacts as students. Individuals who work in a factory are also an example of a secondary group due to their relationship with one another as workers. You can see for yourself how family relationships differ from those at work. This will enable you to distinguish between primary and secondary groups. It is critical to understand the nature of groups and their functions in order to comprehend social behaviour.

SOCIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES Sociology seeks to understand society and to analyse it in terms of pattern-based social relations. Sociology is concerned with three fundamental issues: How and why do societies form? ii)how and why do societies continue to exist? and iii)what causes and how societies change? Sociology has long been concerned with society's evolution. It has attempted to analyse the factors and forces that have shaped society's historical transformations. Societies have evolved from primitive tribal states to rural communities, for example. How villages developed into important commercial centres or centres of art and culture and grew into towns and cities. Sociology has also been interested in the social units. The objective has been to examine a variety of different types of groups, communities, associations, and societies. The objective has been to examine the social relationships that exist within these units. Sociology is concerned with a variety of topics, one of which is social institutions. Institutions give the society structure and perform functions that enable the society to meet its needs. Five fundamental social institutions exist in every society: the family, political institutions, economic institutions, religious institutions, and educational institutions. However, in more complex societies, numerous additional institutions may exist, including bureaucracy, military organisations, welfare and recreational organisations, and so forth. Additionally, caste is an institution that is more or less unique to India. Sociologists also study and analyse social processes. Social institutions, on the one hand, provide stability and order, whereas social processes are the dynamic aspects of social relationships. The latter units will examine a variety of processes, including socialisation, social control, cooperation, conflict, social deviation, and social change. The Cultural Concept Another critical concept is 'culture.' As previously stated, we are immersed in culture from birth and therefore take it for granted. It's difficult to imagine life without culture. Culture provides a summary of past experiences, which serves as the necessary foundation for present-day living. Culture is acquired and shared by group members. In some ways, culture can appear to be the primary means of survival and adaptation. Each of the above-mentioned topics, which are sociological in nature, will have units that go into much greater detail. Because society is dynamic and changing, sociologists' areas of interest are expanding. Today, sociology of knowledge encompasses fields such as sociology of science and art, sociology of health, and sociology of development. This demonstrates sociology's ephemeral nature. Science and Sociology Sociology has been defined at times as the science of society. This begs the question of what constitutes silence. Some have viewed science as an approach, while others

have viewed it as a subject. Simply put, the scientific approach is predicated on the assumption that the phenomena being studied exhibit some degree of regularity, and thus a pattern. The method places a premium on observing and verifying social phenomena. This entails a methodical approach to the investigation of phenomena. The systematic approach entails the following: i)definition of a research problem; ii)compiling data on the defined problem; iii)analyzing and organising data in order to assist in the formulation of hypotheses; and iv)continue testing the hypothesis and developing new concepts and theories on the basis of the results. Sociology has historically taken a systematic approach to studying social life. It has attempted to build a body of reliable knowledge on the basis of the knowledge gathered through the systematic approach. It has attempted to establish patterns of relationships based on this knowledge in order to aid in the understanding of social behaviour. When viewed through the lens of its approach to the study of society, sociology can be considered a science. A COLLECTION OF FOUNDING FATHERS Throughout this course, you will come across the names of numerous early sociologists. A brief introduction is given to early sociologists who made significant contributions to sociology. They all wrote about the intricacies of human behaviour. In some ways, they attempted to comprehend the profound changes occurring in society. Comte Auguste (1798-1857) Comte is widely credited with founding modern sociology. He coined the term 'Sociology'. He attempted to establish a new social science. which not only explains humanity's past, but also forecasts its future course. He believed that society progresses through distinct and fixed stages and toward ever-increasing perfection. According to him, society progresses through three stages: i)theological or religious in nature ii)metaphysical or philosophical in nature iii)the favourable or scientific stage In the initial stages. All phenomena, people believed, were caused by supernatural forces. In the second stage, abstract forces of either religious or secular nature were considered to be the source of knowledge. At the conclusion of the previous stage, scientific laws were supposed to govern both the natural and social worlds.

He also discussed two broad areas:'social statistics,' which is concerned with the orderly and stable aspects of social life, and 'behavioural patterns' (family, occupational, polity. etc.). The second area, dubbed social dynamics, focuses on the study of social system change. Sociology, he believed, was to be the queen of all sciences. Durkheim, Emile (1858-1917) Durkheim was also concerned with sociology's scientific status. In 1895, he published a book titled Rules of Sociological Method. Social solidarity was one of the central tenets of his life. He distinguished two types of solidarity:'mechanical solidarity,' which is based on shared assumptions, beliefs, and sentiments, as in traditional societies, and 'organic solidarity,' which is based on division of labour and interdependent interests, as in industrial societies. When solidarity is shattered, social disarray and confusion ensue. He regarded sociology as encompassing a broad range of interests, including sociology of religion, sociology of knowledge, and sociology of law. Sociology of crime, sociology of economics, and sociology of education, art, and aesthetics are all subfields of sociology. Durkheim introduced an important concept: social facts, which, according to him, are external to the individual but exert pressure on the individual through his or her behaviour pattern. Social facts include customs, traditions, folkways, and mores. He believed sociology should be involved in society's reformation. For him, society was a self-contained reality, that is, it is more than the sum of its parts. Weber, Max (1864-1920) Weber favoured the term "social action" over "social relations." To lain, a comprehensive study of social action entailed comprehending the meanings humans ascribe to their behavioural patterns. Social behaviour was not simply a matter of mechanically learning norms, but also of how people interpreted social values. Sociology examines all forms of social action objectively. Weber was interested in both the understanding of the interrelationships between different facets of society and in comparative studies of various societies. He investigated religion in a variety of societies. His work on Protestant Ethics and Capitalism's Spirit is a seminal work in sociology. He attempted to develop propositions with general validity using both of these approaches. For instance, he distinguished three types of authority: charismatic, traditional, and rational. These concepts are still used in the study of authority and power in leadership. Marx, Karl (1818-1883) Marx's ideas aided in the understanding of society's nature, particularly how conflicts occur. Marx asserts in 1848 that all history is a storey about classes and class struggles. The society becomes divided between oppressors and oppressed—between masters and slaves, lords and serfs, and, more recently, between capitalists and workers. To analyse society's structure, it was necessary to comprehend the forces of production and their relationships. Class struggle results from the contradiction between forces and production relations. Each society, he believes, eventually dies

due to internal conflicts and contradictions and is replaced by a higher one. Capitalism would eventually perish, and a classless society would emerge, marked by the absence of conflict, exploitation, and alienation from this world. Spencer, Herbert (1820-1903) Spencer also emphasised the importance of taking a holistic view of society. Sociology, he asserts, is the study of the family, politics, religion, and social control, as well as the division of labour and social stratification. He emphasised the study of the whole over the study of its components. Individual institutions are inextricably linked. It is only through an examination of these interrelationships that one can hope to gain a better understanding of society. He indicated that the interdependence of the various components was functional, i.e., each component performs a distinct function that is necessary for society's overall well-being. Numerous sociologists, dubbed "functionalists," base their approach to the study of society on Spencer's concept of functional interdependence. SOCIOLOGY AND OTHER SOCIAL SCIENCES SOCIOLOGY AND OTHER SOCIAL SCIENCES As previously stated, sociology takes a broad view. It is concerned with the facets of social life that exist in all of their manifestations. It pervades all social contexts. The majority of closely related social sciences have a limited range of specialisations. It must be emphasised that human behaviour cannot be neatly compartmentalised and assigned to a particular social science. As a result, the boundaries between disciplines frequently overlap. Almost all social sciences frequently venture beyond their 'own' domain and into'someone else's'. Sociology and Social Psychology Social psychology is the study of how individuals are influenced by social and cultural influences. It is concerned with the behaviour of a single individual, in contrast to sociology, which is more concerned with group relations. However, there are some points of agreement, such as socialisation, norms, and values. Additionally, both social psychology and sociology are interested in the influences of the group on the individual and the individual on the group. Anthropology and Sociology Anthropology encompasses a variety of disciplines, including archaeology, linguistics, physical anthropology, and social anthropology. Although anthropology has been defined as the study of prehistoric (primitive) cultures, sociology has been defined as the study of contemporary society. This distinction is obsolete. Social anthropologists conducted the majority of the early village studies in India. Anthropologists have largely studied the tribal communities of India, both physically and socially. As a result, there is some overlap between sociology and anthropology, particularly social anthropology. Both of these disciplines study the concepts of culture and social organisation. Economics and Sociology Sociology and economics both examine industry, but in distinct ways. A specialist in economics would examine industrial factors such as productivity, labour, industrial policy, and marketing, while a sociologist would examine the impact of

industrialisation on society. Economists are concerned with economic institutions such as factories, banks, commerce, and transportation, but not with religion, family, or politics. Sociology is concerned with the interaction of economic institutions and other institutions in society, specifically political and religious institutions. Modern social life is extremely complex, and no single discipline can study it exhaustively. While each social discipline focuses on a distinct aspect of society, it is necessary to consider the institutions' interrelationships. Only a few social sciences have been discussed in order to get a sense of the relationships between them. Similar analyses of sociology's relationship to philosophy, history, and public administration can be made. Sociology, both fundamental and applied Sociologists are interested in conducting research and developing theories about human social behaviour. The objective is to develop a body of reliable knowledge that can be used to comprehend and explain various facets of social life. While this is critical, it is also necessary to apply this knowledge to a variety of human affairs. Numerous factors influence social relations. Increased technological use is one such area. Sociologists can forecast how people will perceive and respond to new technology and the changes it may entail in social relationships. Numerous development programmes are launched. Sociologists can advise on how much caution should be exercised in introducing changes that do not adversely affect their way of life in order for suggested programmes to be accepted. When studies can also provide additional insight into social values and social behaviour, the reactions to innovations — acceptance, resistance, or non-acceptance — should be noted. Thus, sociology enables us to comprehend the social order in which we live and the forces that shape and mould it. Additionally, it suggests strategies for ensuring the emergence of novel social patterns. Sociology, when studied imaginatively, enables us to comprehend the human condition and predicament. Additionally, it can assist in resolving society's current problems and dilemmas....