INTRODUCTI

ON TO
SOCIOLOGY
PRESENTED BY: FASIH-UL-HAQ
ABBASI
Contents
Introduction

What is Society?

Definition of Sociology

Subject matter of Sociology

Nature of Sociology

Development of Sociology

Scope of Sociology

Conclusion 
Introduction
The word “Sociology” was coined by Auguste Comte- French Philosopher in 1839. He is consider as a
father of Sociology

 Sociology is the youngest of all the Social Sciences

 The word “Sociology” is derived from the Latin word ‘Societus’ which means „society‟ and the
Greek word ‘logos’ means “science, study or advanced study”

 Science of society or study of society

A large group of people who live together in an
organized way, making decision about how to
do things and sharing the work that needs to
be done. All the people in country, or in
several similar countries, can be referred to as
a society.

- WHAT IS SOCIETY?
Definition of Sociology
L.F.Ward

“Sociology is the science of society or of social phenomena”

Ginsberg

“Sociology is the study of human interaction and interrelation of their condition and consequences”

Emile Durkheim

“Sociology as a science of social institutions”

Orburn and Nimkoff

“Sociology as the study of social life” Kimball Young “Sociology deals with the behavior of men in group”
Subject matter of Sociology
Sociology is

• The study of society

• The science of social life

• The study of social relationship

• The study of human behavior in groups

• The study of forms of social relationship

• The study of social action

• The study of 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 Nominative Discipline

• Sociology is a pure Science and not an Applied Science

• Sociology is Relatively an Abstract Science not a Concrete Science

• Sociology is Generalizing and not a Particularizing or Individualizing Science 

Development of Sociology
Auguste Comte (1838) believed that a science of sociology should be based on
systematic observation and classification not on authority and speculation. This was a
relatively new idea at that time.
Herbert Spencer (1876) in England published his Principles of Sociology. He applied the
theory of organic evolution to human society and developed a grand theory of social
evolution – Social Darwinism
Karl Marx was most concerned in class struggle in society. He Predicted that all society
would settle into two classes:
Owners of wealth – Always richer
Workers – Always poor
Cont…
Emile Durkheim (1895) said that society exists because of broad consensus. Members of
society agree to certain expectations. In pre-industrial times, consensus of values and beliefs
surrounded family, tradition and conformity called mechanical solidarity. He introduced use of
statistical techniques in research
Courses in sociology appeared in many universities in the 1890s.

The American Journal of Sociology began publication in 1895 and the American Sociological
Society was organized in 1905.
Whereas most of the early European sociologists came from the fields of history, political
economy or philosophy
Many of the early American sociologists had been social workers, ministers and nearly all
were from rural backgrounds.
Scope of Sociology
Urbanization and industrialization were creating grave social problems and these
early sociologists were looking for scientific solutions

They consider sociology as a scientific guide to social progress

Sociology was becoming a body of scientific knowledge with its theories based
upon scientific observation rather than upon confusing observation
Conclusion
Nowadays sociology becomes a very famous subject. Because of its scope many people wish to
study this

Sociology is the study of human social relationship and institution. It offers a distinctive and
enlightening way of seeing and understanding the social world

Students who have been well trained in sociology know how to think critically about human
social life