1.1 Definition and Evolution of Sociology (BT106HS)
1. What is Sociology?
Sociology is the scientific study of society, including patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and culture. It seeks to understand how social structures, institutions (like family, religion, and education), and individual agency shape human behavior and society as a whole.
2. Evolution of Sociology
The term "Sociology" was coined by Auguste Comte in 1838. He is often referred to as the "Father of Sociology." The discipline emerged as a response to the massive social upheavals of the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly the Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution.
- Classical Founders: Auguste Comte, Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber.
- Key Theoretical Perspectives:
- Functionalism: Views society as a system of interconnected parts that work together to maintain stability.
- Conflict Theory: Views society as a struggle between different groups for power and resources.
- Symbolic Interactionism: Focuses on small-scale social interactions and the meanings people attach to them.