Early Sociologists and their Sociological Contributions Contributions Auguste Comte (January 19, 1798 – September 5, 1857)
Isidore Auguste Marie Francoise Xavier Comte Father of Sociology Coined the term “sociology” Saw sociolog sociology y as the produc productt of a threethree-sta stage ge historical development. (1) theological stage (beginning of human history to the end of the European Middl Middle e Ages) Ages) – people people took took a religi religious ous view of society and saw it as an expression of god’s will. (2) (2) Meta Metaphy physi sica call sta stage ge (Re (Rena nais issa sanc nce) e) – people people unders understoo tood d societ society y as a natura naturall rather than supernatural phenomenon. (3) (3) Scie Scient ntif ific ic stag stage e of histo history ry – appli applied ed the the scie scient ntif ific ic appr approa oach ch to the the stud study y of society.
Harriet Martineau (1802 – 1876)
Tran Transl slat ated ed the the work works s of Augu August ste e Comt Comte e from from French into English. Revealed the evils of slavery, right rights s of wome women, n, emanc emancip ipat atio ion n of slav slaves es and and religi religious ous tolera tolerance nce.. In her view, view, schola scholars rs and intellectuals should not simply offer observations of social social conditio conditions; ns; they they should should act upon upon their their convictions in a manner that will benefit society.
Herbert Spencer (1820 – 1903)
Considered Considered as the second founder of sociology sociology because because of his publicati publication on of the first sociology sociology textbook in 1855 entitled, “Social Statics.” Compared society to the human body. The parts of the human body function interdepende interdependently ntly to help help the the enti entire re orga organi nism sm to surv surviv ive, e, soci social al structures (any stable pattern of behavior) work together to preserve society. Followed the work of Charles Darwin’s theory of biol biolog ogic ical al evol evolut utio ion n whic which h hold holds s that that speci species es change change physic physicall ally y over over many many genera generatio tions ns as it adapts adapts to its natural natural environmen environment. t. He proposed that society is a “jungle” with the “fittest” people rising to the top and the weak gradually sinking into miserable poverty.
David Emile Durkheim (April 15, 1858 – 1917)
Sees society as a “god.” Society exists beyond ourselves. Because it is larger than us it has the power to guide our thoughts and action. People create society but once created, it takes a life of its own.
Publ Publis ishe hed d a stud study y on suic suicid ide e (1897 1897)) whic which h demonstrates the great influence upon individual behavior of varying forms and degrees of social integration. He classified suicide as follows: (1) (1) Altr Altrui uist stic ic sui suici cide de – a pers person on fee feels ls a deep deep sens sense e of mora morall obli obliga gati tion on an is willing to place the group’s welfare above his his/her her own own sur surviva vivall (spy who gets gets caught). (2) (2) Egoi Egoist stic ic sui suici cide de – occu occurs rs whe when n the the indivi individua duall feels feels littl little e connec connectio tion n to the larger society and is not affected by social cons constr trai aint nts s agai agains nstt self self-d -des estr truc ucti tive ve behavior. (3) (3) Anom Anomic ic sui suici cide de – occ occur urs s in a tim time e of great social disorder disorder or turmoil. turmoil. Anomie refers to a loss of direction that is felt in a society society when social control of individual individual behavior has bec become ineffective (normlessness). (4) Fat Fatali alistic stic sui suicide cide – relat elated ed to the the powerlessness that people feel when their lives are regulated to an intolerable extent (prisoners).
Karl Marx (May 5, 1818 – 1883)
Philosoph Philosopher, er, economist economist and political political activist activist born in Tier, Prussia. Economic Determinism – assumed that the most basic task of any human society is providing food and shelter to sustain itself. Thus, family structure, law, and religion all develop after adapting to the given economic structure. Social Social confli conflict ct – struggl struggle e betwe between en segme segments nts of soci societ ety y over over val valued res resour ources. ces. The The most ost significant form of social conflict is class conflict arising from the way a society produces material goods.
Max Weber (April 24, 1864 – June 14, 1920)
Empha Emphasiz sized ed how human human ideas ideas shape shape societ society. y. Ideas—especially beliefs and values—are the key to understanding society. He saw modern society not not just just as a produ product ct of new techn technol olog ogy y and and capitalism, but of a new way of thinking. Rationalization of society – the historical change from tradition to rationality as the dominant mode of huma human n thou though ght; t; memb member ers s of prepre-in indu dust stri rial al soci societ etie ies s are are trad tradit itio iona nall wher wherea eas s peop peoplle in industrial-capitalist industrial-capitalist societies are rational.
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