Origins of Sociology

1
Origins of Sociology

• Founders

2
Auguste Comte and Positivism

• Recognized as father of sociology
• Coined the Term Sociology
• Believed social behavior had to be studied
  scientifically.
• Positivism using scientific observation in the
  study of social behavior.
• Applying the Scientific Method to Social World
• Armchair Philosophy
• (drawing conclusions from informal observations
  of social life)

1798-1857
3
Herbert SpencerSocial Darwinism

• Compared society to the body- like a body,
  society is composed of many parts working
  together to promote its well-being and survival.
• Coined Phrase Survival of the Fittest
• Opposed social reform and believed in the lower
  and higher forms of society.
• Interfering is harmful to society.

1820-1903
4
Karl Marx and Class Conflict

• Believed that the Engine of Human History is
  Class Conflict
• A clash between the bourgeoisie and the
  proletariat.
• Resulting in classless society.

1818-1883
5
Durkheim and Social Integration

• Believed that society exist because of a broad
  agreement among members of society.
• As a result members of society are dependent on
  one another.
• Studied how social forces affect behavior
• Identified Social IntegrationDegree to Which
  People are Tied to Social Group
• Studied suicide rates believed they very
  depending on group characteristics.

1858-1917
6
Max Weber and the Protestant Ethic

• Religion is Central Force in Social Change
• Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism
• Research - Weber believed the following
• Sociology Should be Value-Free (personal beliefs
  should not affect research)
• Sociology Should be Objective (neutral, not bias)
  
• Should put yourself in the shoes of others.

1864-1920
7
Harriet Martineau

• Sexism in Early Sociology
• Attitudes of the Time
• 1800s Sex Roles Rigidly Defined
• Few People Educated Beyond Basics
• Harriet Martineau
• Published Society in America Before Durkheim and
  Weber Were Born
• Her work was Ignored

8
Sociology in North America

• Jane Addams and Social Reform
• Worked for the 8 hour work day and laws against
  child labor.
• W. E. B. Du Bois and Race Relations
• Used science and sociology to disprove racist
  assumptions about African Americans.
• Was largely ignored, until recently.