Explain how sociology has emerged as a distinct discipline based on rationality and scientific tamper. (UPSC CSE Mains 2017 - Sociology, Paper 1)
The emergence of sociology in Europe owes a great deal to the ideas and discoveries contributed by science. ‘Scientific Revolution’ marked an area of description and criticism in the field of science. It was a clear break from the past, a challenge to old authority. It defied the dominance of Church, a powerful institution that didn''t give emphasis to logic, through:-
- Darwin''s concept of survival of the fittest that traced the origin of human beings to apes
- Copernicus'' Heliocentric theory challenged the traditional belief that man on earth was the centre of universe
and many more concepts. It helped broaden the view of contemporary men to explore the reality of the universe through logic.
The discovery of blood circulation and understanding of human anatomy laid the foundation of the view that the society is also a system of interconnected and interdependent parts. Such development in the field of science, as a subject, gave particular emphasis to promoting science as an approach in different fields.
Comte, the father of sociology, was highly influenced by this. Term ‘sociology’ first coined by Auguste Comte. Founder of modern sociology. He considered sociology to be the queen of all discipline. Intellectual influences affected emergence of sociology as distinct discipline based on rationality and scientific temper.
Thinkers began to study human conditions in a scientific way using methods of natural sciences. Thinkers upheld reason as measure to judge social institutions and their suitability for human nature. Acc. to thinkers humans are rational and this rationality would led them to freedom of thought and actions. Thinkers believed humans are capable of attaining perfection. By criticizing and changing social institutions they can create greater degree of freedom for themselves.
The first thinkers to attempt to combine scientific inquiry with the exploration of human relationships were Sigmund Freud in Austria and William James in the United States. Freud’s theory of the functioning of the mind and James’ work on experimental psychology had an enormous impact on those who followed.
According to Bottomore social surveys were another important element in the emergence of sociology. Social survey itself was the result of two developments.
- Firstly, the growing conviction that the methods of the natural sciences should and could be extended to the study of human affairs.
- Secondly, it was the recognition that in industrial societies poverty was the result of human ignorance and exploitation and not a natural phenomenon. Under these two influences social survey came to occupy an important place in the new science of society. It has also remained one of the principal methods of sociological enquiry even now.
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