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College of Education
School of Continuing and Distance Education 2014/2015 – 2016/2017
SOCI 221
Basic Concepts in Sociology
Session 2 – Origin and Emergence of Sociology
Lecturer: Dr. Samson Obed Appiah, Dept. of Sociology Contact Information: soappiah@ug.edu.gh
Session Overview
• Overview
• Sociology as a scientific study did not originate out of a vacuum. There were historical and social forces or factors which influenced the emergence and development of sociology. This section seeks to introduce students to the social and/or historical context in which sociology developed within Europe particularly France, Germany and Britain.
• Objective of Session: At the end of the session, the student will
• Understand the social conditions in Europe before the 18th and 19th century
• Identify the historical and social factors which influenced the origin of sociology
• Understand how the social forces particularly influenced the development of sociology
Slide 2
Session Outline
The key topics to be covered in the session are as follows:
• Topic One : Social conditions in Europe before the 18th and 19th century
• Topic Two : The Political or French Revolution
• Topic Three: The Industrial Revolution
•
• Topic Four: The Enlightenment or Age of Reason
• Topic Three: Sociological Imagination
Slide 3
Topic One: Europe before the 18th and
19th Century • Sociology as an academic discipline developed within
Europe particularly France, Germany and Britain.
• As a result, the political, economic and religious conditions within these European societies influences the origins of sociology
• Politically, European societies were monarchies ruled by kings who were considered divine and could not be challenged
• Economically, they were agricultural people with little or no division of labour
Slide 4
Europe before the 18th and 19th Century Cont.
• Religiously, they were conservative, illiterate and superstitious living in traditional communities.
• However, by the beginning of the 19th century, Europeans begun to develop new ideas-
• This is beginning of the period of Renaissance about their societies and social life and begun questioning the political, economic and religious structures of society
• This lead to the social factors of the French and Industrial revolutions and the Enlightenment as social and intellectual factors influencing the origin of sociology
Slide 5
Topic Two: The Political or French Revolution
• Before the revolution, France like other European societies were monarchies ruled by kings and a class-based society
• As a result of new ideas, some people questioned the divine right of the monarchy and there was a revolution in France.
• The revolution was positive as it brought about the end to the monarchy and class system leading to democracy
Slide 6
The Political or French Revolution Cont.
• The negative effects of the revolution were that it created disrespect for authority, social anarchy, disorder and disintegration of society
• It was these negative effects that influenced the emergence of sociology as some social philosophers were concerned about the chaos and anarchy in society.
• Their desire and interest in re-creating orderly and well-integrated societies led to the development of societies (Founding fathers like Auguste Comte).
Slide 7
Topic Three: The Industrial Revolution
• The industrial revolution (1750-1850) resulted in the transformation of western world from a largely agricultural to an industrial system.
• As a result, the labour force that had hitherto worked on the farms left for industrial factories.
• The industrial revolution influenced the lives of people in many ways: migration to search for factory work
• The revolution brought about a new capitalist system with few individuals owned the means of production
Slide 8
The Industrial Revolution Cont.
• This brought about industrialization and urbanization and many social problems;
• Problems such as unemployment, overcrowding, lack of accommodation, social isolation, creation of slumps among others
• Social thinkers and early sociologist were concerned about these problems
• Their attempts to find solutions to these problems by studying them led to the emergence of sociology
Slide 9
Topic Four: Enlightenment Period
• In France, the Enlightenment is often termed the Age of Reason because this was when the hold of religion, tradition and superstition were finally broken
• During this period, a number of long-standing ideas and beliefs about social life were overthrown and replaced with rational and empirical observation
• Social philosophers believed in using knowledge and reasoning to create a good society.
Slide 10
The Enlightenment Cont.
• It was these enlightenment ideas that brought about the changes in the political, economic and religious lives of European societies.
• In an attempt to understand the political, economic and religious changes in Europe at the time, and provide solutions to them;
• The French social philosopher Auguste Comte proposed that society should be studied scientifically through a new discipline called sociology.
Slide 11
Sample Question
• In what ways did the following influenced the emergence of sociology as a scientific study of society?
1. The French or Political Revolution
2.The Industrial Revolution
3.The Enlightenment
Slide 12
Reading List
• Refer to students to relevant text/chapter or reading materials you will make available on Sakai
• Hughes, M., Kroehler, C.J. (2005). Sociology: The Core (7th Edition). Boston: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (Chapter 1, Pages 8-10)
• Henslin, J.M. (2007). Essentials of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach. Boston: Pearson Custom Publishing. (Chapter one, Pages 5-6)
• Robertson, Ian (1987). Sociology. New York: Worth Publications (Chapter one Pages…)
Slide 13
References
• Hughes, M., Kroehler, C.J. (2005). Sociology: The Core (7th Edition). Boston: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (Chapter 1, Pages 6-7)
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