INTRODUCTION TO

SOCIOLOGY

SOCIOLOGY
The

systematic study of human society and social

interaction.

Auguste
He

comte is the father of Sociology

coined the term Sociology using the two terms

Socius

Companionship
or Associate (Greek term)

Logos

Study or Science
( Latin Term)

SOCIOLOGY

Its major concern is society, and hence it is known as

the science of society.
To understand the scope of the subject, it is necessary
to know the meaning of science and the classification
of sciences- Physical and Social.
Science is concerned with knowledge.
It refers to the body of knowledge systematically
arranged.

PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL

SCIENCES
Physical

sciences

Deal mostly with the natural inanimate objects.

Make use of the scientific method in order to acquire
knowledge and conduct experiments to verify facts.

Social

Sciences

Is applied any kind of study which concerned with man and

society.
The application of scientific methods of the study of complex
network of human relations.

WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?
The

focus of sociology is
on socialness.

Sociology

primarily
interested in mans
behaviour in relation to
other men.

Sociology

essentially
and fundamentally
deals with the network
of social relationships.

SOCIOLOGY AS A DISCIPLINE
It

is youngest of all social sciences.

Its importance and practical usefulness are
widely recognised.
It is concerned with the life and activities of
man.
It studies nature and character of human
society.
It discovers the fundamental conditions of
social stability and social change.

DEFINITIONS
Auguste

Comte, a French man, is coined the

term Sociology in 1839.

Sociology

is a general science of society

-Kingsley Davis
The science of collective behaviour
- Park
The science of social relations
- Small

DEFINITIONS
The scientific study of social
life
- Ogburn and Nimkof
The

study of man- inrelationship- to men.

- Jones

In

the broadest sense,

sociology is the study of
human interactions and interrelations, their conditions
and consequences
- Ginsberg

SUBJECT MATTER OF
SOCIOLOGY
Sociology

the

is

study of
Society
Social life
Social relationships
Human behaviour in groups
Forms of social relationships
Social action
Social groups and social systems

NATURE OF SOCIOLOGY
Sociology

is an independent science.
Sociology is a social science and not a physical
science.
Sociology is a categorical and not a normative
discipline.
Sociology is a pure science and not an applied
science.
Sociology relatively an abstract science not a
concrete science.

NATURE OF SOCIOLOGY
Sociology

is a generalizing and not a

individualized science.

Sociology

is general science and not a special

Sociology

is both a rational and empirical

science.

science.

THANK YOU