WEEK 1
special science.
Nature of Sociology and Anthropology
A. SOCIOLOGY
❖ Scientific study of human society, its
origin, structure, function, and
direction.
❖ The word “sociology”, was taken
from two foreign words:
● “Socius”, a Latin term which
means “companion” or
associate
● “Logos”, a Greek term for
study
I. NATURE OF SOCIOLOGY
Sociology is a Social Science not a
Physical Science: it concentrates on
man, his social behavior, social
activities, and social life;
Sociology is Categorical discipline,
not a Normative discipline: As a
Categorical discipline, it is a body of
knowledge about human society, and
not a system of ideas and values;
It is Pure Science: It aims to provide
knowledge about human society, not
the utilization of that knowledge;
Sociology is the generalizing and
not a particularizing or
individualizing science;
Sociology is a general science, not a
● It is concerned with human
interaction and human life in
general.
● It only studies human
activities in a general way.
Sociology is both Rational and an
Empirical science. There are two
broad ways of approach to scientific
knowledge:
● Empiricism: is the approach
that emphasizes experience
and the facts that result from
observation and
experimentation.
● Rationalism: is a stressed
reason and the theories that
result from logical
interference.
II. FOCUS OF SOCIOLOGY
➔ Is a Quantitative Science
➔ Most theories are based on polls,
statistical analysis, sampling, and
large collections of life histories.
Sociologists strive to be as impartial
and scientific as possible as they
gather data;
➔ The Data analyzed by sociologists is
often used by government officials
and market researchers alike.
 B. ANTHROPOLOGY
What is Anthropology?
III. CHARACTERISTICS OF
ANTHROPOLOGY
Anthropology: is the broad study of
humankind using– facts, hypothesis, and
theories.
● It is concerned with other cultures,
languages, values, and achievements
in the arts and literature.
● Anthropology is committed to
experiencing other cultures.
● Is interested in the overall culture of
a group of people such as social
institutions, art, history, mythology,
and common mores, among other
traits.
● Anthropologies now study societies
all over the world, but look for
overarching themes that are
reinforced through case studies.
● It also includes archeology, and due
to a great amount of substantive
speculation is thought to be a softer
science than sociology.
IV. ON INTEREST OF
ANTHROPOLOGY
Anthropology are interested in all
human beings—whether living or
dead;
No place or time is too remote to
escape the notice of anthropologists;
No dimension or humankind from
skin color to dress customs falls
outside the anthropologists’ interest.
IN SUMMARY
❖ Anthropology and Sociology are
both fields of social science that
study the behavior of humans within
their societies.
❖ Traditionally, anthropology dealt
with the study of cultures of other
people, while sociology was used to
understand our own society.
❖ Today, anthropology tends to look at
the big picture of human culture
while sociology spends more time
analyzing data from specific studies.
❖ Anthropology is considered to be a
softer science than sociology as its
conclusions are based on case studies
than hard data.