Historical Origin of Sociology
Sociology is the science of society that studies the function and structure of society, as well as the changes that occur within it. For example, family and community life, social problems, social mobility and community beliefs and practices (Palispis 3). In the beginning, late 18th century, scholars used other methods to understand society. These included religion, philosophy, history, politics and economics. Despite their fundamental differences, each method influenced the growth of sociology. The relationship between society, state, and religion had become liberal, and as a result, emphasis on human endeavors gained more ground. Thus, the origin of society and state became a consequence of human efforts (Sharma 3).
Through the development of these other social sciences, sociology came into existence. Human thought had developed up to the stage it could now deal with their reality (J. Drysdale and S. Drysdale 28). Some of the factors that spurred on the development of sociology relate to different events spanning various fields. In terms of socio-economics, changes witnessed across various platforms resulted in political, social and economic changes. These changes include; the growth of craftsmen and traders in the place of feudal lords and landlords and increase in the number and development of cities. Other changes included a decrease in solidarity and coercive powers of communities and a decrease in the privileges and rights of the monarch by increasing parliamentary power in England. Furthermore, French thinkers became more critical following the French Revolution. They assumed that to restructure and bring about order in the society, the need for a new kind of science was necessary. Philosophy also brought about various ideologies that were representative of liberal and radical thinkers; while other ideologies expressed the need for conservative views (Sharma 4).
With the age of Enlightenment in Europe, a sociological spark got lit. Individuals built on the comprehensive belief of idealism and discipline to evoke a new method of analyzing the society. Pioneers such as Hegel, Comte and Karl Marx, drove home the scientific basis for comprehending society (Fulcher and Scott 2011).
Importance of Sociology as a Social Science
As a science, sociology enables us to understand the phenomena behind humanity and their way of living; to use critical analysis in research and learn how to frame research questions. It also helps us analyze and understand the functioning of the social world and find ways of improving it (Streeck 5). In Little’s article on understanding society, he suggests that sociology is an essential field of study because it broadens our minds by helping us assess situations critically, pass information eloquently and with confidence.
As a social science, sociology is important as it helps us to understand the intricacy of society. Kumar states in his article on the importance of studying sociology that the dynamics of society are difficult to comprehend, especially when there is a limit of knowledge of its structure and how it operates. He further says that sociology provides us with a framework that can be used to formulate relevant goals and plans on how to achieve them. In addition, sociological research gives us an opportunity to discern the variations within different cultures, and this helps in promoting harmony among individuals. Achievement of harmony gets realized through the methods that sociology offers to appreciate the differences.
In the third world and underdeveloped countries, sociology as a science plays a great role in illuminating the social triggers of the economic drag. Governments attain the capacity to understand the needs of their people in a better way through studying these social triggers. Problems such as unemployment, prostitution, overpopulation, racism, among others, need to be carefully analyzed, because they are high contributors to poverty. Application of research based on sociological approaches can help in solving such issues. Another importance is that it has facilitated the improvement of tribal societies, who just like civilized communities, face socio-economic challenges (Cherns, Jenkins, and Sinclair 105).
Works Cited
Cherns, A. B., W. I. Jenkins, R. Sinclair. Social Science and Government: Policies and Problems. 1972. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2013. Print.
Drysdale, John, and Susan Drysdale. "The History of Sociology: The North American Perspective." 21st Century Sociology. Ed. Clifton D. Bryant, and Dennis L. Peck. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc., 2007. I-28-45. SAGE knowledge. Web. 16 Oct. 2014. Retrieved from www.sagepub.com/oswmedia3e/study/chapters/handbooks/handbook2.1.pdf
Fulcher, James, and John Scott. “Sociology.” 4th ed. New York: Oxford University Press Inc., 2011. Print.
Kumar, Bharat. What is the importance of studying sociology? Preserve Articles, 2012. Web. 17 Oct. 2014. Retrieved from http://www.preservearticles.com/201102214067/what-is-the-importance-of-studying-sociology.html
Little, Daniel. “Sociology as a social science discipline.” Understanding Society. Academic Earth, 9 Nov. 2007. Web. 17 Oct. 2014. Retrieved from http://understandingsociety.blogspot.com/2007/11/sociology-as-social-science-discipline.html
Palispis, Epitacio. “Introduction to Sociology and Anthropology.” Manila: Rex Printing Company Inc, 1997. Print.
Sharma, Rajendra. “Fundamentals of Sociology.” New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers & Distributors, 2007. Print.
Streeck, Wolfgang. “How Social Sciences Can Contribute To Changing A Society.” Academic Swiss Caucasus Net, 2012. Web. 17 Oct. 2014. Retrieved from http://www.ascn.ch/en/Publications/ASCN-Brochures/mainColumnParagraphs/01/download_website.pdf
