The events that led to the emergence of Sociology
INTRODUCTION
Though, sociology had been practice unknowingly or unconsciously before 19th century by people in the society. Yet it wasn’t established as a distinct discipline, until the middle of the 19th century that sociology emerges as a distinct academic discipline. Auguste Comte (1798-1857) has been credited as the father of sociology in 1837. He was a French philosopher. He coined the word sociology from two words ‘socius’ a Latin word which means science or society and ‘logo’ a Greek word which means science or study. Therefore, sociology simply means science that study people’s behaviour in the society. The development of sociology was greatly influence by two great historical revolutions that took place in Europe and these include; the English social industrial revolution started in London and French political revolution took place in France.
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION 1760-1840/50
The industrial revolution was the transition to new manufacturing process from hand production methods to machines (Wikipedia, 2017). It was a period during which was a predominantly agrarian, rural society in Europe and America became industrial and urban. Prior to industrial revolution which began in Britain in the late 1700s, manufacturing was often done in people’s homes, using hand tools or basics machines (history.com). Social life as of that time was significantly communal, but in the other hand life was so difficult before the industrial revolution. This was so because they were farming subsistent i.e farming for private consumption as such they were malnourished and faced with several diseases everywhere. The iron and textile industries were the beneficiaries of the revolution. During the revolution the mode of production changes from private consumption to commercial purposes. Jobs s opportunities were created; road and technologies were improved or developed (soc101 notes, 2016).
Industrial revolution created employment and unemployment to people that migrated to urban areas. Some people were fortunate to be employed and others were not. The remaining unemployed could not go back to their countryside (village) probably perhaps they feels people will laugh at them. Consequently, they causes undesirable changes in the society by committing crimes such as prostitution, arm robbery, gansterian life and so many others deviant acts. In addition, uche (2002), point out the aftermath of industrial revolution as it brought about great gap between the rich and the poor, material problem of over-crowding and unpleasant urban condition. These social changes make social thinkers like Auguste Comte, Emile Durkheim and among others to question the social order and sought to find out problems that were rampant there in the society.
FRENCH REVOLUTION 1789-1799
The French revolution was a period of far reaching social and political upheaval in France that lasted from 5th may 1789 to 9th November 1799 and was partially carried out by napoleon Bonaparte during the later expansion of French empire (Wikipedia, 2017 internet). At that time France was ruled by the nobles (the monarch) and the church (Roman Catholic). Peoples were subjected and owed allegiance to them; as such the nobles and the church maltreated people anyhow as the oppression persisted people hated them. Soc101 note (2016), then there came the renaissance ideas, where they were taught that power belongs to all people and not few people. The spirit of renaissance reflected to how America got her own independent and they also conceived that, they can also fight and get their own freedom.
France has been supporting American Revolution, they supported them because they were enemies with Britain (soc101note, 2016), and whose America was fighting with. The French government was deeply in debt and attempt to restore it financial status through unpopular taxation schemes (Wikipedia, 2017). King Louis XVI the monarch of France at that time summons the estate-General in 1789. His parliament comprised the three medieval estates: aristocracy, the clergy and the commoners. They were the figure representing French people and to help king in raising revenue for his family and for the state. In 1789 instead of approving king’s request for the money, the representative of the third estate (the commoners) refused to disperse when order was given, he helps to initiate an insurrection in the street of Paris. They ultimately succeeded in the execution of King Louis XVI and some 30’000 people died during the revolution. Ukessays (2017) the power now shifted from the church to the hand of the people. This was the first time people were seen as citizen. Then, people form new government.
In conclusion, Comte looked at the extensive changes brought about by the French and industrial revolution and tries to make sense of them. He felt that the social sciences that existed at that time, including political science and history, couldn’t adequately explain the chaos and upheaval he saw around him. He decided an entirely new science was needed. He called this new science ‘SOCIOLOGY.’
Q2. WHAT IS POSITIVISM?
The concept of positivism was developed by French philosopher Auguste Comte, the father of sociology. Positivism originated in 19th century, when Comte described his ideas in his books ‘the course in positive philosophy ‘and ‘A general view of positivism.’ (study.com). positivism is the third stage of societal development postulated by Comte. According to him, the first stage of societal development is theological stage – it is a period that people ascribed everything that happen to God or supernatural being. Metaphysical stage, still people believed in divine powers or gods, but they believed that these beings are more abstract and less directly involved in what happen on a daily basis. The third stage which is scientific or positive stage is when people view the world and events as explain by scientific principles.
Positivism is the term use to describe an approach to the study of society that relies specifically on scientific evidence, such as experiments and statistics to reveal a true nature of how society operates (study.com). It is the application of scientific method to the analysis of the society (sparknotes.com). Furthermore, positivism is the view that social phenomena (such as human social behaviour and how societies are structured) ought to be studied using only the method if natural sciences (chegg.com). it is a view about appropriate methodology of social science, emphasizing empirical observation. It is also associated with empiricism (the view that knowledge is primarily base on experience vie the five senses)
FIVE PRINCIPLES OF POSITIVISM
Crossman (2017) cited from thoughtco.com, identified five principles of positivism which include the following:-
- The logic of inquiry is identical across all branches of science
- The goal of inquiry is to explain, predict and discover.
- Research should be observed empirically with human senses.
- Science is not the same with common sense
- Science should be judge by logic and remain free of values
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, despite the effort to establish the scientific study of the society (positivism), just like natural sciences like physics, chemistry, biology etc. Many contemporary thinkers criticize positivism, claiming for example that not all data is empirically observable, because they are dealing with human beings which are dynamic in nature.
REFERENCES
Crossman Ashley (2017), what is positivism in sociology? Background
And theory of positivism. Thoughtco.com
https://www.ukessays.com/essays/sociology/the-emergence-of-sociology.php
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/french-revolution
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/industrial-revolution
m.sparknotes.com/sociology/introduction-to-sociology/section1.rhtml
Soc 101 note (2016), an introduction to sociology
study.com/academy/lesson/positivism-in-sociology-defination-theory-examples.html
Uche et’al (2002), currents and perspectives in sociology. Ibadan;
Malthouse press limited
www.chegg.com/homework-help/definations/positivism-49
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