F.y.b.a.

F. Y. B. A. SOCIOLOGY PAPER – I FOUNDATION OF SOCIOLOGY 2 1 SOCIOLOGY AS A DISCIPLINE Contents : *Perspectives in sociology: – Functionalist, Conflict, Interpretive, Critical. *Sociology Imagination: – Developing a sociological outlook *Significance of sociology Unit Structure : 1. 0 Objectives 1. 1 Introduction 1. 2 Definition 1. 3 Subject matter of sociology 1. 4 Is Sociology a science ? 1. 5 Nature of sociology 1. 6 Scope of sociology 1. 7 Early thinkers 1. 8 Perspectives in sociology 1. 8. 1 Fuctionalist perspective 1. 8. 2 Conflict perspective 1. 8. 3 Interactionist perspective 1. 8. 4 Critical perspective 1. 0 OBJECTIVES:- ï‚· To give a basic understanding of sociology. ï‚· To know the meaning and subject matter of sociology ï‚· To understand the nature of scientific study ï‚· To know the nature and scope of sociology ï‚· To study the contribution of early thinkers towards the development of sociology 3 ï‚· To familiarize the students with various sociological perspectives 1. 1. INTRODUCTION: In the family of social sciences, Sociology is comparatively a new entrant. But because of its dealing with social problems, social relationships and social interactions the importance of the study of this subject has considerably increased. It has considerably developed in methodology, scope and approach. Attempts are now being made to study every social problem scientifically and objectively, eliminating subjectivity to the extent possible a distinctive way of examining human interactions. Sociology is the systematic study of social behavior and human groups. It focuses primarily on the influence of social relationships upon people’s attitudes and behavior and on how societies are established and change. As a field of study sociology has a very broad scope. It deals with families, gangs, business firms, computer networks, political parties, schools, religions, and labor unions. It is concerned with love, poverty, conformity, technology, discrimination, illness, alienation, overpopulation and community. 1. 2. DEFINITION: Sociology is being defined differently by our sociologists and other’s each one of course, has its own news about the nature and scope of the subject, as he conceives it. According to Ward “ Sociology is science of society”. George Simmel opines that it is a subject which studies human inter-relationship. Giddins is of the view that “ Sociology is scientific study of society”. Max Weber has viewed sociology as “ Science which attempts imperative understanding of social actions”. Sorokin is of the opinion that sociology is a study first of all the relationship and correlations between various classes… second between the social and non social aspects of life and third it studies general characteristics common to all classes of society. Ogburn has said t