SOCI-1015EL Lecture 2: Soicological Philosophers
20 Jun 2018
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Philosophers
Auguste Comte — The french philosopher (1798 - 1857), developed the term sociology. He
never conducted sociological research, although is still considered as the “founder of sociology”.
His theory contains social statics and social dynamics, and are still used today. Mentor: Count
Henri, he stressed that the methods of natural sciences should be applied to the objective study
of society. Positivism — A belief that the world can be best understood through scientific inquiry.
Comte’s positivism has 2 dimensions (1) methodological — the application of scientific
knowledge to both physical and social phenomena (2) social and political — the use of such
knowledge to predict the likely results of different policies so that the best one could be chosen.
Harriet Martineau — British Sociologist (1802-1876). Translated and condensed Comte;s work,
but was also an active sociologist in her own right, analyzed the consequences of
industrialization and capitalism. She published on the topics of religion, politics, child rearing,
slavery and immigration in the United States, paying special attention to social distinctions
based on class, race and gender. Martineau also explored the status of women, children and
“sufferers” (persons who are considered to be criminal, mentality ill, handicapped, poor or
alcoholics). Advocating or racial and gender equality, she was committed to creating a science
of society that would be grounded in empirical observations and widely accessibly. She argued
that sociologists should be impartial in their assessment of society but that it is entirely
appropriate to compare the existing state of society with the principles on which it was founded.
Herbert Spencer — Born in a more peaceful era (1820-1903), and not influenced by revolutions.
Spencer’s major contribution to society was an evolutionary perspective on social ordering
social change. He believed that there are many parts to society such as family, governments
and the economy. Spencer also believed in the process of “struggle” and “survival of the fittest”,
often attributing to Charles Darwin — Social Darwinism - the belief that thosespcies of animals,
including human beings, best adapted to their environment survive and prosper, whereas those
poorly adapted die out.
Emile Durkheim — French Sociologist (1858-1917). Stressed that people are products of their
environments and that behaviours cannot be fully understood in terms of indivudall biological
and psychological traits. Limits of humans are socially based, not biological. Durkheims most
important contributions to sociology is the idea that societies are built on social facts; Social
facts are patterned way of acting, thinking, and feeling that exist outside any one individual but
that exert social control over each person. He also observed that rapid social change led to
strains in society, and ultimately the breakdown in traditional organization, values, authority and
to a dramatic increase in anomie. Anomie — a condition in which social control becomes
ineffective as a result of the loss of shared values and a sense of purpose in society.
Karl Marx — German Economist and philosopher (1818-1883). Stressed that history is a
continuous clash between conflicting ideas and forces; believing that conflict — especially class
conflict — is necessary in order to produce social change and better society. Marx was more
economically focused.
Max Weber — German social scientist (1864-1920), was concerned about the changes Brough
about by he industrial revolution.Although he disagreed with Marx’s idea that economics is the
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Document Summary
Auguste comte the french philosopher (1798 - 1857), developed the term sociology. He never conducted sociological research, although is still considered as the founder of sociology . His theory contains social statics and social dynamics, and are still used today. Henri, he stressed that the methods of natural sciences should be applied to the objective study of society. Positivism a belief that the world can be best understood through scienti c inquiry. Translated and condensed comte;s work, but was also an active sociologist in her own right, analyzed the consequences of industrialization and capitalism. She published on the topics of religion, politics, child rearing, slavery and immigration in the united states, paying special attention to social distinctions based on class, race and gender. Martineau also explored the status of women, children and. Sufferers (persons who are considered to be criminal, mentality ill, handicapped, poor or alcoholics).
