DISCIPLINES AND IDEAS IN

SOCIAL SCIENCES
QUARTER 3 WEEK 1
BELINDA M. LLORONO
Subject Teacher
Historical Background of Social Sciences Quexbook2018

The history of the social sciences begun in the

roots of ancient philosophy. In ancient history,
there was no difference between Mathematics
and the study of History, Poetry or Politics,
only with the development of mathematical
proof did there gradually arise a perceived
difference between “scientific” disciplines and
others such as the “humanities” or “liberal
arts.”
 According to Stearns et al. (2000) In the period of
1760
 Some effort was spent on the study of man and society. Hobbes` Leviathan; Lock’s Two Treatises
on Government; Vico’s New Science; and Montesquieu Spirit of Laws were all published in this
period.
 The revival of interest in social science occurred in the middle of the 18th century.
 By the middle of 18th century, capitalism had begun to outgrow its early state and gradually it
became the dominant socio-economic system in western and northern Europe.
 In the second half of the 18th century, urbanization and population growth became accelerated,
and during this period slums, alcoholism, brutality of manners etc. developed which were to
become the targets of social reforms.
 In the other half of the 18th century, in response to the above there is a multiplication of works
with a scientific character.
 Auguste comte (1798-1853) invented the term sociology. He was the first to systematize and give
a complete analysis of the principles of the positive character of the Social Sciences.
 Montesquieu and Voltaire broke a new path for politics and history.
 SOCIAL SCIENCES
 essentially the term “Social Sciences” is defined as the body
of knowledge concerned with the methodical study of various
aspects of our society, numerous social phenomena, and the
impacts of these occurrences on people’s live. It is
characterized as the area of study that deals with the human
behavior in its cultural and social facets.
 also, it is considered as the branch of science that focuses on
the interpersonal relationships among people living in a
society.
 Definitions of Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and
Humanities Social Sciences Denhardt et al. (2009)

Social Sciences
A branch of science devoted to the study of societies
and the relationships among individuals within those
societies. “Social sciences as those mental or cultural
sciences which deal with the activities of the individual
as member of the group. The term social sciences thus
embrace all those subjects which deal with the
relationship of man to the society.
 Natural Sciences
A major branch of science that deals
with the description, prediction and
understanding of natural phenomena,
basically based on observational and
empirical evidence.
 Table 1: Two Main Branches of Natural Science Denhardt et al.
(2009)
Description
Branches of Natural Science
1. Life Science/ It studies life in all its forms, past and present. This includes plants, animals,
Biological Science viruses and bacteria, single-celled organisms, and even cells.

This is the systematic study of the inorganic world, as distinct from the study of
2. Physical Science
the organic world, which is the province of biological science.
The science in which matter and energy are studied both separately and in
a. Physics
combination with one another.

The scientific study of celestial objects (such as stars, planets, comets, and
b. Astronomy galaxies) and phenomena that originate outside the Earth's atmosphere (such as
the cosmic background radiation).

The study of matter and its transformations and the development of methods to
c. Chemistry
manipulate those transformations to create new and useful forms of matter.

The study of the Earth and its neighbors in space. It is an exciting science with
d. Earth Science
many interesting and practical applications.
 Humanities
refers to the study of the ways in which
the human experience is processed and
documented.
encompasses the field of philosophy,
literature, religion, art, music, history and
language.
 Social Sciences and Natural Sciences
Things in Common
 both sciences employ the scientific model in
order to gain information.
 both sciences use empirical and measured data
evidence that can be seen and discerned by the
senses.
 both sciences’ theories can be tested to yield
theoretical statements and general positions.
 Table 2: Differences of Social Sciences and Natural Sciences
Social Science
 Arose 300 years later
 Deals with subject (human being) It
is spontaneous, unpredictable and
uncontrollable, as it deals with human
emotions and behavior.
 Experiential Data
 Typically involves alternative
methods of observation and
interaction with people within
community. Open system
Natural Science
 Started during the 16th and 17th
century.
 Deals with object.
 Characterized by exactness,
controlled variables, and
predictability.
 Experimental Data
The typical method of science is
doing repetitive and conventional
laboratory experiments. Closed
System
 Social Science and Humanities.. Things in
Common

Both the humanities andsocial science

are concerned with human aspects like,
law, politics, linguistics, economics, and
psychology as well as human lives and
nature
 Table 3: Differences of Social Sciences and Humanities
Social Science
Influenced by and developed after the 
French revolution and the Industrial 
revolution.
Social science deals with more scientific
approach.
Involves application of an empirical,
rational, and objective methodology
(such as the use of validity and
reliability test) to present facts.
Humanities
Emerged in the 15th century.
Humanities involved more of a
 scientific approach.
Deemed to be more philosophical
and concerned with heritage and the
question of what makes us human.
It comprises the application of an
interpretative methodology.
 Table 4: Functions of Social Sciences and
Humanities
Social Science
To analyze, explain, and
possibly predict and produce
new knowledge
of factual information
To generate and produce new
knowledge or factual
information
Humanities
To better appreciate the
meaning and purpose of the
human experience both broadly
in the nature of the human
condition, as well as within each
individual
Word Wheel!
Directions: Using only the letters in the word wheel, reveal the magic word. Write
your answer on a separate sheet of bond paper and relate this word to your personal
life as a teenager through a short essay.
 What I Have Learned
 1.The history of the social sciences begins in the roots of ancient philosophy.
 2. Social sciences came forth from the moral philosophy of the time and were
influenced by the Age of Revolution, such as the Industrial Revolution and the
French Revolution.
 3. In the period of 1760 some effort was exerted on the study of man and society.
Hobbes` Leviathan; Lock’s Two Treatises on Government; Vico`s New Science; and
Montesquieu Spirit of Laws were all published in this period.
 4. By the middle of 18th century, capitalism had begun to outgrow its early state and
gradually it became the dominant socio-economic system in western and northern
Europe.
 5. Auguste comte (1798-1853) invented the term sociology. He was the first to
systematize and give a complete analysis of the principles of the positive character of
social sciences.
 6. Montesquieu and Voltaire broke a new path for politics and history.
 What I Have Learned

 7. At the beginning of the 19th century, social science had attained in all the
leading European countries a firm and respectable position.
 8. 20th Century Development. At this stage the social science has become
institutionalized to a high degree. It has now become a subject of research.
 9. Social Sciences as those mental or cultural sciences which deal with the
activities of the individual as member of the group.
 10.Natural Sciences is a major branch of science that deals with the description,
prediction and understanding of natural phenomena, basically based on
observational and empirical evidence.
 11.Humanities refer to the study of the ways in which the human experience is
processed and documented.
 12.The two main branches of Natural Science are life sciences/biological sciences
and physical sciences.
THANK
YOU!!!