Disciplines and Ideas

in the Social Sciences

MARICAR V. DELMAS
What is social sciences and how can it be used to
study and understand society?
 Social Sciences : The Study of Society
• A 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 lives.
• It is characterized as the area of study that deals with the human
behavior in its cultural and social facets.
• it is considered as the branch of science that focuses on the interpersonal
relationships among people living in a society
• Social Sciences focused on the contributing factors or elements that
molded and governed the development of the human civilization.
 Social Sciences
• Social Sciences, as the systematic study of human society,
can be considered as helpful tools that provide the
necessary knowledge and skills for us to deeply
understand several social phenomena and, more
importantly, to make our world a better place to live in.
• Social science examines the relationships between
individuals and societies as well as the development and
operation of societies, rather than studying the physical
world.
Skills gained from Social Sciences
• Analytical Skills
• Research Skills
• Critical Thinking
• Communication Skills
• Problem- Solving
Society
 ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
• Society- the first element of Social Sciences, puts the entire
body of knowledge in individuals as social beings and their
social backgrounds or environments. It situates Social Sciences
in people and social issues that are affecting them.
• Empirical analysis places the Social Sciences in an academic
mode of investigation about human society using the scientific
method, the systematic and rational process of obtaining
knowledge.
 HISTORY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
• The roots of some of the important concepts and purposes of
Social Sciences go completely back to the ancient Greece.
• the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, two historical
periods where some of the major evolutionary ideas
emerged, would not have served their own respective
purposes in the course of our civilization,
 Founding Father
• Auguste Comte (1798-1857), the founder of Positivism and
the one who foreshadowed the use of this philosophy in
studying human behaviors, argued that metaphysics and
theology are imperfect methods in searching for knowledge;
that rational thought is far more powerful in comparison to
faith and superstition in explaining different social
phenomena
 Positivism
• is a philosophy that believes that every single reasonable
affirmation can be scientifically proven or tested by empirical
sciences or is capable of mathematical or logical evidence.
 Society
• an organized group of individuals whose members work
together or regularly meet and have a shared territory,
interest, and way of living.
• People with common interests come forward and make a
society.
• can also mean an organized group of people working
together for their common interests, perspectives, or
beliefs.
 Society
• in sociology, society is essential for living. Society is a place
where one can comfortably live and participate in societal
works.
• A society is essential as it is a home for all people with
similar cultures, interests, hobbies, perceptions, opinions,
etc. Well, there are many functions of society like it is a
large human group, satisfies the needs of the members, has
a sense of cooperation and belongingness, etc.
 Community
• A community is defined as a group of people who follow a
social structure in a society. The social structure involves
religion, morals, customs, values, etc. The place of a
community can be virtual as well as physical (village,
towns, countries, etc.).
SOCIETY COMMUNITY
A society is defined as a group of On the other hand, a community is
people sharing the same culture, defined as the group of living in a social
interests, opinions, etc. structure.
A society is a physical place. A community can be a physical or virtual
place.
Society is wider, i.e., it includes The community is smaller as compared
several small communities. to society.
Society is heterogeneous, i.e., there is Community is homogenous, i.e., less or
diversity among the members. no diversity is present among the
members.
Society is a web of building social A community is only a group of
relationships. individuals.
I. Write True if the statement is correct and False if not.
_______1. Social science can be used to study and understand society.
______ 2. Socialization affects the overall cultural practices of a society, but it
does not shape one’s self-image.
______ 3. Most social scientists believe heredity is the most important factor
influencing human development.
______ 4. Social sciences perspective can be used to address issue or problem.
______ 5. Society refers to a group of people who share a culture and a
territory.

II. As a social sciences student, how will you use social sciences in you daily
life?
SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN HUMANITIES, SOCIAL
AND NATURAL SCIENCES
1. Define Society?
2. Why is it important to study Social
Sciences?
3. As a social sciences student, how
will you use social sciences in you
daily life?