Module one: Understanding of Sociology

NATURE AND SCOPE OF SOCIOLOGY

Sociology is one of the first social sciences to be acknowledged. The word ‘sociology’ owes
its origin to the Latin word socius (companion) and the Greek word logy (study of).

1. Sociology incorporates the study of social phenomena, social life, groups, institutions,
associations and societies.
2. It focuses on society from a scientific point of view.
3. Sociology has a vast scope. It ranges from Individual to grouped social systems.
4. The principles of sociology explain the behaviour of human beings and their existence
with respect to their mutual interaction.

In fact, sociology has always studied societies, both taken separately and together, as ‘human
societies.

1. The balance between the two aspects may vary, but at the end, the study of the one
absolutely requires study of the other.
2. Neither of them makes sense independently.
3. For instance, considering India as a society, one can think of it in terms of cities,
factories, schools, farms or prisons.
4. One can also think of it in terms of politics, media or divinity. It is simple to connect
all these factors.
5. They can also be visualized as confined within the boundaries of Indian states and
referred under the general heading of Indian society.

Popular definitions of Sociology

• Sociology is the science of social phenomena ‘subject to natural and invariable laws,
the discovery of which is the object of investigation’. —Auguste Comte
• ‘Sociology… is a science which attempts the interpretative understanding of social
action in order thereby to arrive at a causal explanation of its course and effects.’—Max
Weber
• In the broadest sense, sociology is the study of human interactions and interrelations,
their conditions and consequences.’—Morris Ginsberg
 • ‘Sociology is the study of man and his human environment in their relations to each
other.’ —Henry Fairchild

Nature of Sociology

Sociology is the study of human interactions, their conditions and consequences.

1. It is a type of science that comprises investigative techniques which are objective and
systematic.
2. It gives rise to the evolution of the social truth that is based on empirical evidence and
interpretation.
3. However, it cannot be directly based on natural sciences, since human behavior is a
unique phenomenon.
4. It also differs from natural sciences such that the contents of natural sciences are
constant, while human behavior, exhibits variations and flexibility.

Sociology as a branch of knowledge has its own unique characteristics. It is different from
other sciences in certain respects. The unique characteristic of Sociology are :

• Sociology is an independent science: It is not treated and studied as a branch of any

other science. As an independent science, it has its own field of study, boundary and
method.
• Sociology is a social science and not a physical science: As a social science, it focuses
its attention on man, his social behaviour, social activities and social life. It is related
to other social sciences such as history, political science, economics, and so on.
• Sociology is a categorical and not a normative discipline: Sociology does not make any
kind of value judgments.
• Its approach is neither moral nor immoral but amoral.
• It is ethically neutral.
• It makes no recommendations on matters of social policy or legislation or programme.
• Sociology cannot deal with problems of good and evil, right and wrong, moral and
immoral.
• Sociology is a pure science and not an applied science: The main aim of pure science
is acquisition of knowledge, irrespective of whether the acquired knowledge is useful
or can be put to use. On the other hand, applied science applies acquired knowledge
into life.
 • Sociology is relatively abstract and not concrete science : It is not interested in concrete
manifestation of human events. It is more concerned with the form of human events
and their patterns. For instance, sociology is not specifically concerned with wars and
revolutions but in the general social phenomena, as types of social conflict.
• Sociology is not based on particular subjects or individuals, but is a general science:
Sociology tries to find out general laws or principles about human interaction and
associations about the nature, forms, and content and structure of human groups and
societies. It adopts a general approach on the basis of a study of some selected events.
• Sociology is a rational and empirical science : There are two broad ways of approach
to scientific knowledge: one is empiricism and the other is rationalism. Empiricism
emphasizes experiences and facts that result from observation and experiment.
Rationalism stresses on reason and theories that result from logical inference. In
sociological inquiry, both are significant.

Scope of Sociology

According to the British sociologist Morris Ginsberg, the scope of sociology includes a broad
study of human interactions, their conditions and consequences.

• Some writers would restrict its scope to the relations arising out of acts of will, but this
is an unjustifiable and unworkable limitation.
• Many interactions between individuals are not consciously determined or apprehended.
• One of the most interesting problems confronting the student of society is to determine
the respective roles of reason or rational purpose, and of impulse and the
unconsciousness in social life.

In this case, sociology must be capable of dealing with the complete issue or network of social
relationships. However, these relationships are assumed to be dependent on the nature of
individuals, to one another, to the community, and to the external environment. This can be
explained if every social event can be traced back to its origin, as influenced by complex
interactions. A combination of these interactions is comprised within a community, with
respect to external influences. But this ideal, if generously conceived, is clearly too ambitious.

Sociology involves a systematic and objective study of human society.

1. Sociologists study individuals’ social actions.

 2. Social relationships, for instance, those between a husband and a wife, a teacher and a
student, a buyer and a seller, and social processes, namely, cooperation, competition,
conflict and organizations, communities and nations, and social structures (family, class
and state), give rise to sociological queries.
3. Explanations that are derived from norms and values result in the formation of social
institutions.
4. Thus, sociology can be defined as the study of social life.
5. Sociology comprises a variety of apprehensions and interests. It is aimed at providing
classified forms of relationships within societies, institutions and associations.
6. These relationships pertain to economic, political, moral, religious and social aspects
of human life.
7. Although, so far, no collective agreement has been reached on the essence of sociology,
so for yet it is established that sociology deals with the study of interaction systems,
which shape social institutions, the state and the non-native order.
8. Therefore, in sociology, we study about social organization, social structure,
institutions and culture.

Sociology was defined differently by two schools of thought, pertaining to its range and theme:

1. Formal school
2. Synthetic school

Formal school

Formal school argued in favor of giving sociology a definite subject matter to make it a distinct
discipline. It emphasized upon the study of forms of social relationships and regarded sociology
as independent. According to Simmel sociology is a specific social science which describes,
classifies, analyses and delineates the forms of social relationships or in other words social
interactions should be classified into various forms or types and analysed. The formal school
defined sociology as a social science that has definite characteristics.

• This school was advocated by eminent sociologists including George Simmel,

Ferdinand Tonnies, Alfred Vierkandt and Leopord Von Wiese.
• The formal school supported the idea of giving sociology a suitable subject matter to
make it a distinct discipline.
 • It stressed on the study of forms of social relationships and considered sociology as
independent.

Synthetic school

The school of thought believes that sociology should study society as a whole and not confine
itself to the study of only limited social problems. The synthetic school wants to make
sociology a synthesis of the social sciences or a general science. The synthetic school defines
sociology as a combination of social sciences. It stresses on widening the range of sociology.
The synthetic school with well-known sociologists, namely, Durkheim, Hobhouse and Sorokin
attempted to bring together a type of coordination among all social sciences.

Importance of Sociology

The discipline of sociology is recognized widely today. Nowadays, there is a growing

realization about the importance of the scientific study of social phenomena and means of
promoting what American sociologist and economist Franklin Henry Giddings calls ‘human
adequacy’. It is of great value in modern complex society.

1. Sociology makes a scientific study of society : Sociology has made it possible to study
society in a systematic and scientific manner. Scientific knowledge about human
society is needed in order to achieve progress in various fields.
2. Sociology throws more light on the social nature of man : Sociology delves deep into
the social nature of man. It tells us why man is a social animal and why he lives in
groups. It examines the relationships between individuals and the society.
3. Sociology improves our understanding of society and increases the power of social
action : The science of society assists an individual to understand himself, his
capacities, talents and limitations. It enables him to adjust to the environment.
Knowledge of society and social groups helps us to lead an effective social life.
4. Sociology has contributed generously to enhance the value of human culture: Sociology
has trained us in building a rational approach to questions that concern ourselves, our
religion and customs. It teaches one to have an object- oriented and balanced approach.
It emphasizes the importance of ignoring petty personal prejudices and ambitions that
are influenced by ego and envy.
5. Sociology studies the role of institutions in the development of the individual: The
home and family, school and education, church and religion, states and government,
 and marriage and family are important institutions through which a society functions.
Furthermore, they are conditioners of an individual’s knowledge of sociology.
6. Sociological knowledge is indispensable for understanding and planning of the society:
Sociological planning has been made easier by sociology. Sociology is often considered
a vehicle of social reform and social organization. It plays an important role in
reconstruction of the society.
7. The need for sociology in underdeveloped countries : Sociologists have drawn the
attention of economists regarding the social factors that have contributed to the
economic backwardness of a few countries. Economists have now realized the
importance of sociological knowledge in analysing the economic affairs of a country.
8. Study of society has helped several governments to promote the welfare of tribal people
: Not only civilized societies but tribal societies also have several socio-economic
problems. Studies conducted by sociologists and anthropologists regarding tribal
societies have helped many governments in undertaking various social measures to
promote the welfare of tribal people.