Origin of Sociology: The Science of Society

There is always a connection between the social conditions of a period and the ideas, which arise and are dominant in that period. For thousands of years, society has been a subject for speculation and enquiry. Yet, sociology is a modern science which originated only within last hundred fifty years or so. Sociology is the study of the development, structure, and functioning of human society. It emerged as a distinct discipline in 19^th century Europe. The three major factors which influence the emergence of sociology as a sphere of study began in the late eighteenth century with the French Revolution, the period known as 'the Enlightenment' and the Industrial Revolution.

The French revolution had lasted for ten whole years and was the first modern and ideological revolution in Europe. It had a great impact on people because it changed the societal structure entirely. It managed to eliminate the social discrepancies between people and the feudal society. The power was taken away from the Church and came to hands of the people. This was the first time that the common people became empowered. People were seen as citizens with certain rights. In addition to this, the clerical hierarchy also gave up its rights and property. These changes had a historical, political and social impact in the entire of Europe and not just France. Also, the French Revolution brought significant changes to the common family structure since it was followed by the Declaration of Human Rights which stated that all humans are born free and equal. 'Civil marriage' and 'divorce' were established. Civil marriage was another way for people to project their doubts upon the Church. The concept of divorce was gradually being accepted in the society. Education and religion also changed significantly.

French Revolution

 The industrial revolution which took place from 18^th and 19^th century was a period during which rural societies in Europe became urban and mechanised. Industrialization brought in goods in a large amount and variety. While it improved the European economy greatly, and improved living conditions for some people it also created grim employment and living conditions for some poor and working classes. The new industrial capitalism although improved the quality of life but it also led to creation of urban centres, population boost and realization of problems such as exploitation,  housing,  health, slum development etc. which became problems and issues of sociology. The events that were conducive in transformation of Europe from premodern to modern along with socio, political and economic revolutions are integral to the emergence of sociology.

Industrial Revolution

The Enlightenment was another major movement contributing to the emergence of sociology in the late 18th and early 19th century. The Enlightenment is considered to be the source of critical and newly emerged ideas, such as the freedom, democracy, and reason as primary values of society. The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement consisting of many philosophers. The most popular figures of this new framework were Charles Montesquieu, Jacques Tugot and Jean Condorcet. They attempted to question the traditional and existing conceptions of the world.

Sociology emerged in response to the challenges of modernity in these eras. Increasing mobility and technological advances resulted in the increasing exposure of people to cultures and societies different from their own. The impact of this exposure was varied, but for some people it included the breakdown of traditional norms and customs and developed a vivid understanding of how the world works. Additionally, the growth of cities and religious transformations were causing many changes in people’s lives as well. Another factor which incentivised the emergence of sociology is that during these eras people began to question age old traditions and implemented rational thinking to them. A new perspective emerged amongst the people, fuelling the development of a structured society.

Although, the study of society can be traced to the Greek philosophers, Pwslato and Aristotle, the term sociology was coined by French philosopher Auguste Comte in 1838, who for this reason is known as the “Father of Sociology.” The philosophical basis of Plato and Aristotle characterised the observations of man for a very long period of time. The literature concerning society and its problems found place in the Republic of Plato and in the Politic and Ethics of Aristotle.

Enlightenment

Auguste Comte felt that science could be used to study the social world. Just as there are testable facts regarding gravity and other natural laws, Comte thought that scientific analyses could also discover the laws governing our social lives. In this context, Comte introduced the concept of positivism. Positivism is a way to understand the social world based on scientific facts. It is the philosophical system of Auguste Comte, recognising only positive facts in observable phenomena and rejecting metaphysics and theism and religious system founded on this. Thus, Comte was against all types of irrational elements in social thinking. He believed that, with this new understanding, people could build a better future. He envisioned a process of social change in which sociologists played crucial roles in guiding and reinventing the society.

Auguste Comte

There were other events in that time period which also influenced the development of sociology. The nineteenth and twentieth centuries were times of many social disruptions and changes in the social order which were a matter of interest the early sociologists. The political revolutions sweeping Europe during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries led to a focus on social change and the establishment of social order that still inspires sociologists today to think and study. Many early sociologists were greatly fretful about the Industrial Revolution and rise of capitalism and socialism as well. Auguste Comte was also disturbed by the tumultuous conditions of the French society and was critical of Enlightenment and the French Revolution. He stressed upon the necessity of a systematic structure of society and accorded great importance to the role of ‘consensus’.

Other classical theorists of sociology from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, W.E.B. DuBois, and Harriet Martineau. As pioneers in sociology, most of the early sociological thinkers were trained in other academic disciplines, including history, philosophy, and economics. The diversity of their trainings is reflected in the topics they researched, including religion, education, economics, inequality, psychology, ethics, philosophy, and theology. These forerunners of sociology all had a vision of using sociology to call attention to social concerns and bring about social change.

Together, the span the whole of the nineteenth and early twentieth century, during which modern sociology was formed. They represent the main national centres France, England and Germany in which sociology first flourished and in which the modern tradition began. Each exerted a profound personal influence on the conception of sociology as an intellectual discipline. For instance, in Europe, Karl Marx teamed with wealthy industrialist Friedrich Engels to study the case of class inequality. Writing during the Industrial Revolution, when many factory owners were lavishly wealthy and many factory workers miserably poor, they attacked the proliferating inequalities of the day and focused on the role of capitalist economic structures in preserving these inequalities. In Germany, Max Weber was active in politics while in France, Emile Durkheim encouraged educational reform. In Britain, Harriet Martineau stood up for the rights of girls and women, and in the US, W.E.B. DuBois focused on the plight of racism.

Society is the largest organisation of the individuals. Society has its own problems in every field yet it is majorly sustained by harmonious co-existence. It is through the study of sociology that the scientific study of society has been possible. The study of society not just has great significance in modern society, it has become requisite. The study of society contributes to the invention of social policies which requires certain amount of specific knowledge about that society. Sociology also provides a great deal of information that is helpful in making decisions on social policy. Another specific aspect of sociology is the study of the great social institutions and the relations of the individual humans with them. Hence, there is a need for the strengthening of these institutions and one of the first essentials is the scientific study of their problems and situations. Sociology has analysed the causes of the many difficulties of society and suggested the means for fixing them. A scientific study of societal problems is required if they are to be solved. Hence, sociology is highly important and very relevant to the human society.