Glimpse of Natural Science - Sociology

Study about Sociology

What are the objectives about this study ?

• To trace the history of sociology;
• To identify the early sociologists; and
• To recognize their contributions to sociology.

Development of Sociology in Europe

In 19th century, Industrial Revolution happened in Europe on which people preferred to use machines than using man-power in production and distribution of goods. As a result of the revolution, many farm workers were displaced and unemployed. Many workers from European cities migrated to urban areas to work in the factories. The terrible conditions made the people work for long hours in unstable surroundings for insufficient pay, the moral values of the people were destroyed. It is so terrible because the crime rose and the chaos followed. Fortunately , there are individuals who are concerned and tried to make sense of the changes around them, and in so doing the started the science of sociology.

European Sociologists

• Claude-Henri De Rouvroy , Comte De Saint-Simon (1760 -1825) - He is born in France, and known for his awesome idea about the world that would managed a international council of scientists. Instead of using guns and bullets, society rather build roads and irrigations to improve the conditions of life.

• Auguste Comte ( 1798 - 1857 ) *Father of Sociology, He is the one who coined the word sociology. One of his famous contribution is The Course of Positive Philosophy which developed the idea of positivism as a science that uses observations, comparison, and historical method in understanding and studying social behavior. Comte believed that through positivism, social behavior could be studied.

• Herbert Spencer (1829 - 1903 ) - He is the one who taught that societies will undergo evolution that was based on the principles of natural laws. Since development is same as evolution, so he had stop any social reform that will only obstruct the natural evolutionary process of development. Time will fix the problems of society.

In the Philippines, three stages of development were noted. Sociology was taken first as a social philosophy, second as a problem oriented course, and third as a scientific discipline.