Ishaan Rastogi, CSE 8 (2023-27)

Q: How is sociology defined by various sociologists, and what are the common
themes in these definitions?

Sociology is defined differently by various sociologists, reflecting their

individual perspectives on the nature & scope of the subject. Common themes in
these definitions include:

● Ward views sociology as the "science of society."

● George Simmel defines it as the study of human inter-relationships.
● Giddins sees sociology as the "scientific study of society."
● Max Weber describes sociology as the "science that attempts imperative
understanding of social actions."
● Sorokin emphasizes the study of relationships & correlations between
classes, social and non-social aspects of life, and general characteristics
common to all classes of society.
● Ogburn focuses on the study of social life in relation to culture, natural
environment, heredity, and group factors.
● Durkheim defines sociology as the "science of collective representation."
● E.S. Bogardus defines sociology as the study of how social experiences
function in developing, maturing, and repressing human beings through
interpersonal stimulations.

These definitions collectively reveal that sociology primarily concerns social

relationships, the study of society, human interactions, interpersonal and
intrapersonal relations, and the scientific examination of social institutions,
organizations, and systems. It's important to note that sociologists have
diverse viewpoints on the subject, leading to a lack of unanimity in its
definition. But at the end, Sociology is the systematic study of social behaviour
and human groups.

Q: What is the subject matter of sociology according to Sorokin's perspective, and

how does it differ from the formal school of thought?

Subject Matter of Sociology According to Sorokin:

1. Relationship & Correlation: Sorokin identifies the primary focus of sociology

as the study of the relationships & correlations between various classes of
social phenomena. This includes exploring connections between economic &
 religious, family & moral, judicial & economic, mobility & political phenomena,
among others.
2. Social and Non-Social Phenomena: Sociology also delves into the
interactions between social & non-social elements. This encompasses the
examination of how social phenomena relate to geographical & biological
factors.
3. Generalized Study: Sorokin emphasizes that sociology involves a generalized
study of facts that are common to all aspects of social life. It seeks to
identify overarching characteristics that apply universally to different
classes of social phenomena.
4. Human Behaviour & Social Values: Sorokin's perspective extends to the
study of human behaviour, social organizations, social phenomena, and social
values. He sees sociology as closely related to the workings of human beings.
5. Opposition to Formal School of Thought: Sorokin's view on sociology
differs from the formal school of thought, as he places a stronger emphasis
on the relationships between various social & non-social phenomena and the
generalized study of common social facts.

Q: How sociology is viewed not as a science as well as a science?

Sociology as a science:

1. Methodological Rigor: Sociology supporters argue that sociologists must use

a systematic approach, relying on impartially collected, analysed, and
interpreted data for their conclusions.
2. Emphasis on Hard Facts: Like natural scientists, sociologists focus on
empirical, real-world data and not idealized situations. They analyse social
facts as they are.
3. Universality of Theories: Sociology has developed universally applicable
social theories and concepts through rigorous research and analysis.
4. Cause-Effect Relationships: Sociologists, like natural scientists, investigate
cause-effect relationships in social phenomena like the links between social
stratification and social disorganization.
5. Predictive Capability: Sociology aims to make informed predictions about
social behaviour & outcomes, similar to how natural scientists make
predictions in their fields.

Sociology not as a science:

1. Lack of Generalizability: Critics argue that social science results can’t
always be generalized and may not hold true in all societies & circumstances
due to variations in conditions & social changes.
2. Complexity & Unpredictability: Social phenomena are often complex &
subject to change, making it challenging to establish consistent & universal
findings.
3. Subjective Approach: Sociologists may have subjective biases that affect
their investigations, and individuals may withhold information, impacting the
accuracy of data.
4. Lack of Control: Sociologists lack the lab facilities & control over the
materials they study, mainly dealing with human subjects. Repeating
experiments is often impossible.
5. Diverse Nature of Social Problems: The nature of social issues varies
across the world, making it difficult to make uniform & safe predictions in
the field of sociology.

Q: What is the nature of sociology?

● According to Robert Stead, sociology is a social science that deals with

human beings and social phenomena.
● It is a positive science that studies social phenomena as they are, and it is a
pure science that focuses on the underlying factors of social phenomena.
● It is an abstract science that studies society in general and is a science of
generalization rather than particularization.

Q: What are the differing views on the scope of sociology, and how do proponents of
the formal and synthetic schools of thought define the scope of sociology?

Scope of Sociology - Differing Views:

1) August Comte's Scientific Approach

He believed that sociology should adopt a scientific approach in studying

social phenomena. He stressed the importance of scientific methodology in
sociological research.

2) Emile Durkheim's Independent Status

He aimed to establish sociology as an independent discipline separate from

other social sciences by giving it a unique status & identity.
3) Vilfredo Pareto's Scientific Orientation

He advocated for a scientific orientation in sociology & emphasized the

exclusion of inferences. He believed in the fundamental unity among various
social phenomena.

4) Max Weber's Interpretative Understanding

He contended that sociology should focus solely on interpretative

understanding of social actions without going beyond this scope.

Formal School of Thought:

1) Limited Scope & Purity

● Max Weber, a key proponent, believed that sociology should deal with the
interpretations of social behaviours only.
● Vierkandt suggested that sociology should focus on formal, not actual,
behaviour.

2) George Simmel's Emphasis on Social Relationships

He stressed the importance of social relationships & interactions. He proposed

that society is a collection of social relations, not just individuals. He
recommended the study of specific social relations within the context of social
production & heritage.

3) Vone Wiese's Distinctiveness

He argued that sociology's subject matter is distinct from other social

sciences. He believed sociology should not be seen as a combination of social
sciences but as a unique field with its own importance.

Synthetic School of Thought:

1) Widened Scope & Holistic Approach

Proponents of the synthetic school of thought, including Auguste Comte, believe

that sociology's scope should be broadened. They argue that studying one
aspect of society in isolation can yield misleading results, as all aspects are
interconnected.

2) Hobb-House & Sorokin's Advocacy for Comprehensive Study

They supported the idea that sociology should study society as a whole. They
recognized the interdependence of various social aspects.

3) Sorokin's Systematic Science

He sought to provide a new approach to sociology, emphasizing its systematic &

comprehensive nature. He believed that sociology should also address general
facts of social life.

In summary, the scope of sociology is a subject of debate, with

proponents of the formal school of thought advocating for a more limited &
specialized focus, while proponents of the synthetic school of thought argue
for a broader, holistic approach to studying society.

Q: How does sociology differ from other social sciences?

OR
Q: How does sociology relate to other social sciences?

● Sociology differs from other social sciences in several ways.

● Psychology studies individual behaviour from a psychological point of view,
while sociology studies individual behaviour from society's perspective.
● Economics focuses on the increase of material happiness and the social
aspects of economic activities, while sociology studies society as a whole.
● Anthropology focuses on the study of man, while sociology focuses on social
institutions.
● Sociology is also considered the mother of all social sciences, as it
encompasses various aspects of the social universe.

Q: What are the perspectives in sociology?

● Sociologists view society in different ways, leading to different

perspectives.
● The functionalist perspective sees society as a stable and ongoing entity,
emphasizing the endurance of social institutions.
● The conflict perspective views society as composed of groups in conflict,
competing for scarce resources.
● The interactionist perspective focuses on everyday interactions among
individuals and the meanings they attach to their actions.
● The critical perspective analyses society's power structures and seeks to
bring about social change.
Q: Who are some notable sociologists and their contributions?

● Max Weber, a German sociologist, introduced the concept of "Verstehen"

and emphasized the importance of understanding subjective meanings people
attach to their actions. He also developed the concept of the ideal type for
studying various social phenomena.
● Karl Marx, a revolutionary thinker, critiqued existing institutions and
focused on the class struggle.
● Erving Goffman popularized the dramaturgical approach, comparing everyday
life to a theatre stage. These are just a few examples of notable sociologists
and their contributions.

Q: What are the types of sciences?

● The sciences are divided into 2 large areas.

● Those that deal with the physical universe are called physical sciences. Ex
Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Ecology, Biology, etc.
● Those that deal with the social universe are called Social Sciences. Ex-
History, Economics, Political Science, Jurisprudence and Sociology.
Q: What is the relationship between Sociology & History and their differences?

Q: What is the relationship between Sociology & Pol. Science and their differences?
Q: What is the relationship between Sociology & Economics and their differences?
Q: What is the relationship between Sociology & Anthropology and their differences?
Q: What is the relationship between Sociology & Psychology and their differences?