Sociology is a science that studies society, its functioning and development

The word "sociology" comes from the Latin "societas" (society) and the Greek word "hoyos" (doctrine). From this it follows that sociology is a science that studies society. We invite you to get acquainted with this interesting area of knowledge.

Briefly on the development of sociology

Mankind tried to comprehend society at all stages of its history. Many thinkers of antiquity talked about it (Aristotle, Plato). However, the concept of "sociology" in scientific circulation was introduced only in the 30s of the 19th century. He was introduced by Auguste Comte, a French philosopher. Sociology as an independent science was actively formed in Europe in the 19th century. The most intensive in its development involved scientists who write in German, French and English.

The founder of sociology and his contribution to science

Auguste Comte - a man through which the emergence of sociology as a science. The years of his life are 1798-1857. It was he who first spoke about the need to separate it into a separate discipline and substantiated such a need. So there was sociology. Briefly describing the contribution of this scientist, we note that he, in addition, for the first time determined its methods and subject. Auguste Comte is the creator of the theory of positivism. According to this theory, it is necessary to create an evidence base, similar to that of natural sciences, when studying various social phenomena. Comte believed that sociology is a science that studies society only with reliance on scientific methods, with the help of which one can obtain empirical information. These are, for example, observation methods, historical and comparative analysis of facts, experiment, the method of using statistical data, and others.

The emergence of sociology played an important role in the study of society. Proposed by Auguste Comte, a scientific approach to his interpretation opposed the speculative reasoning about him, which at that time was offered by metaphysics. According to this philosophical direction, the reality in which each of us lives is the fruit of our imagination. After Comte offered his scientific approach, the foundations of sociology were laid. It immediately began to develop as an empirical science.

Rethinking the content of the subject

Until the end of the 19th century, the point of view of it, as an identity of social science, dominated in scientific circles. However, in the studies conducted in the late 19th - early 20th century, the theory of sociology was further developed. It began to stand out together with the legal, demographic, economic and other aspects and social. In this connection, the subject of science of interest to us gradually began to change its content. It began to be reduced to the study of social development, its social aspects.

Contribution of Emile Durkheim

The first scientist who defined this science as specific, different from social science, was the French thinker Emil Durkheim (years of life - 1858-1917). It is thanks to him that sociology has ceased to be regarded as a discipline identical with social science. She became independent, rose to a number of other sciences about society.

Institutionalization of sociology in Russia

The foundations of sociology were laid in our country after the decision of the Council of People's Commissars was adopted in May 1918. It stated that conducting research on society is one of the main tasks of Soviet science. In Russia, for this purpose, the sociobiological institute was founded. In Petrograd University in the same year was created the first in Russia sociological department, which was headed by Pitirim Sorokin.

In the process of development in this science, both domestic and foreign, there were 2 levels: macro- and microsociological.

Macro- and microsociology

Macrosociology is a science that studies social structures: educational institutions, social, politics, families, economies in terms of their interconnection and functioning. This approach also examines people who are involved in the system of social structures.

At the level of microsociology, the interaction of individuals is considered. Its main thesis is that phenomena in society can be understood by analyzing the personality and its motives, actions, behavior, value orientations that determine interaction with others. This structure allows us to define the subject of science as the study of society, as well as its social institutions.

Marxist-Leninist approach

In the Marxist-Leninist concept a different approach arose in understanding the discipline of interest to us. The model of sociology in it is three-level: empirical studies, special theories and historical materialism. This approach is characterized by the desire to inscribe science in the structure of the worldview of Marxism, to create links between historical materialism (social philosophy) and concrete sociological phenomena. The subject of discipline in this case is the philosophical theory of the development of society. That is, sociology and philosophy have one thing. Clearly, this is an incorrect position. This approach has isolated the sociology of Marxism from the world process of developing knowledge about society.

The science that interests us can not be reduced to social philosophy, since the peculiarity of its approach is manifested in other concepts and categories correlated with verifiable empirical facts. First of all, the peculiarity of it as a science lies in the possibility to consider existing social organizations, relationships and institutions as being subject to study by means of empirical data.

Approaches of other sciences in sociology

Note that O. Comte pointed to the 2 features of this science:

1) the need to apply scientific methods in relation to the study of society;

2) the use of the data obtained in practice.

Sociology in the analysis of society uses the approaches of some other sciences. Thus, the application of the demographic approach makes it possible to study the population and the activities of people associated with it. Psychological explains the behavior of individuals through social attitudes and motives. The group, or general approach is connected with the study of the collective behavior of groups, communities and organizations. Culturological studies human behavior through social values, rules, norms.

The structure of sociology today determines the presence in it of a set of theories and concepts associated with the study of individual subject-related branches: religion, family, human interaction, culture,

Approaches at the level of macro sociology

In the understanding of society as a system, that is, at the macrosociological level, two basic approaches can be distinguished. This is a conflictological and functional one.

Functionalism

Functional theories first appeared in the 19th century. The idea of the approach itself belonged to Herbert Spencer (pictured above), who compared human society with a living organism. Like it, it consists of many parts - political, economic, military, medical, etc. At the same time, each of them performs a specific function. Sociology has its own special task related to the study of these functions. By the way, the very name of the theory (functionalism) is from here.

Emil Durkheim proposed a detailed concept within this approach. It continued to develop R. Merton, T. Parsons. The basic ideas of functionalism are as follows: society in it is understood as a system of integrated parts, in which mechanisms are present, thanks to which its stability remains. In addition, the necessity of evolutionary transformations in society is substantiated. Its stability and integrity are formed on the basis of all these qualities.

Theory of Conflict

As a functional theory (with certain reservations), one can also consider Marxism. However, he is analyzed in Western sociology from a different point of view. Since Marx (pictured above) considered the conflict between classes to be the main source of development of society and pursued his idea of its functioning and development on this basis, approaches of this kind were given a special name in Western sociology - the theory of conflicts. From the point of view of Marx, class conflict and its solution are the driving force of history. From this followed the need to reorganize society through a revolution.

Among supporters of the approach to the consideration of society from the point of view of the conflict, one can mention such German scientists as R. Darendorf and G. Simmel. The latter believed that conflicts arise because of the existence of an instinct of hostility, which is exacerbated when there is a clash of interests. R. Darendorf argued that their main source is the power of some over others. There is a conflict between those in power and those who do not have it.

Approaches at the level of microsociology

The second level, microsociological, developed in the so-called theories of interactivity (the word "interaction" is translated as "interaction"). An important role in its development was played by Ch. H. Cooley, W. James, JG Mead, J. Dewey, G. Garfinkel. Those who developed interactional theories, believed that interaction between people can be understood using categories of encouragement and punishment - it's what determines human behavior.

Role theory occupies a special place in microsociology. What is characterized by this direction? Sociology is a science in which the theory of roles was developed by such scientists as RK Merton, J. L. Moreno, R. Linton. From the point of view of this direction, the social world is a network of social statuses (positions) linked together. They explain the behavior of a person.

Grounds for classification, the coexistence of theories and schools

Scientific sociology, considering the processes taking place in society, classifies it on various grounds. For example, studying the stages of its development, one can take as a basis the development of technologies and productive forces (J.Gelbreit). In the tradition of Marxism, the classification is based on the idea of a formation. Society can also be classified on the basis of the dominant language, religion, etc. The meaning of any such division is the need to understand what it is in our time.

Modern sociology is constructed in such a way that there are on the same basis different theories and schools. In other words, the idea of a universal theory is denied. Scientists began to come to the conclusion that there are no hard methods in this science. However, the adequacy of the reflection of the processes occurring in society depends on their quality. The meaning of these methods is that the phenomenon itself, rather than giving rise to its causes, is given the main significance.

Economic sociology

This is the direction of research of society, which involves analysis from the standpoint of the social theory of economic activity. Its representatives are M. Weber, K. Marx, V. Sombart, J. Schumpeter, and others. Economic sociology is a science that studies the totality of social socio-economic processes. They can relate to both the state or markets, and individuals or households. Various methods of data collection and analysis are used, including sociological ones. Economic sociology in the context of the positivist approach is understood as a science that studies the behavior of any large social groups. Her interest is not in any behavior, but in the use and receipt of money and other assets.

Institute of Sociology (RAS)

Today in Russia there is an important institution related to the Russian Academy of Sciences. This is the Institute of Sociology. Its main goal is the implementation of fundamental research in the field of sociology, as well as applied developments in this field. The Institute was founded in 1968. Since that time he is the main institution of our country in such an industry of knowledge as sociology. His research is very important. Since 2010, he publishes "Bulletin of the Institute of Sociology" - a scientific electronic journal. The total number of employees is about 400 people, including about 300 researchers. Various seminars, conferences, and readings are held.

In addition, on the basis of this institute, the sociological faculty of the SAUGU operates. Although only about 20 students per year are enrolled in this faculty, it is worth considering to those who chose the direction "sociology".