PPT: Basic Concepts of Sociology | Sociology Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

 Page 1


Basic Concepts of 
Sociology
Page 2


Basic Concepts of 
Sociology
What is Sociology?
Definition
Sociology is the 
scientific study of 
human society and 
social behavior, 
emerging as an 
independent discipline 
in the 19th century.
Origin of the Term
August Comte, a 
French philosopher, 
coined the term 
"sociology" in 1839.
From socius (Latin: 
companion/associ
ate) and logos 
(Greek: 
science/study).
Etymologically 
means science of 
society.
Evolution
Originally seen as 
social philosophy or 
philosophy of history, 
it evolved into a 
distinct social science.
No single definition is 
universally accepted 
due to diverse 
perspectives among 
sociologists, reflecting 
its broad scope.
Page 3


Basic Concepts of 
Sociology
What is Sociology?
Definition
Sociology is the 
scientific study of 
human society and 
social behavior, 
emerging as an 
independent discipline 
in the 19th century.
Origin of the Term
August Comte, a 
French philosopher, 
coined the term 
"sociology" in 1839.
From socius (Latin: 
companion/associ
ate) and logos 
(Greek: 
science/study).
Etymologically 
means science of 
society.
Evolution
Originally seen as 
social philosophy or 
philosophy of history, 
it evolved into a 
distinct social science.
No single definition is 
universally accepted 
due to diverse 
perspectives among 
sociologists, reflecting 
its broad scope.
Development of Sociology 
August Comte and the Birth of Sociology
Known as the father of sociology, Comte introduced "sociology" 
in 1839.
Goal of Sociology
His goal was to systematically study the social world and identify 
its underlying principles.
Establishment as a Discipline
Established sociology as a separate discipline focused on 
understanding societal dynamics and human behavior.
Scientific Approach
His work emphasized the need for a scientific approach to 
studying society.
Page 4


Basic Concepts of 
Sociology
What is Sociology?
Definition
Sociology is the 
scientific study of 
human society and 
social behavior, 
emerging as an 
independent discipline 
in the 19th century.
Origin of the Term
August Comte, a 
French philosopher, 
coined the term 
"sociology" in 1839.
From socius (Latin: 
companion/associ
ate) and logos 
(Greek: 
science/study).
Etymologically 
means science of 
society.
Evolution
Originally seen as 
social philosophy or 
philosophy of history, 
it evolved into a 
distinct social science.
No single definition is 
universally accepted 
due to diverse 
perspectives among 
sociologists, reflecting 
its broad scope.
Development of Sociology 
August Comte and the Birth of Sociology
Known as the father of sociology, Comte introduced "sociology" 
in 1839.
Goal of Sociology
His goal was to systematically study the social world and identify 
its underlying principles.
Establishment as a Discipline
Established sociology as a separate discipline focused on 
understanding societal dynamics and human behavior.
Scientific Approach
His work emphasized the need for a scientific approach to 
studying society.
Development of Sociology 
John Stuart Mill's Alternative
Proposed "ethology" as an alternative name for the 
science of society.
His suggestion was not widely adopted but sparked 
debate about the discipline's identity.
Mill's ethology studied character formation, impacting 
sociology and psychology.
Herbert Spencer's Contributions
Embraced and popularized the term sociology in his 
works.
Developed a systematic framework for studying society, 
focusing on social evolution and structure.
His efforts, alongside Comte's, helped cement sociology as a 
permanent academic discipline.
Page 5


Basic Concepts of 
Sociology
What is Sociology?
Definition
Sociology is the 
scientific study of 
human society and 
social behavior, 
emerging as an 
independent discipline 
in the 19th century.
Origin of the Term
August Comte, a 
French philosopher, 
coined the term 
"sociology" in 1839.
From socius (Latin: 
companion/associ
ate) and logos 
(Greek: 
science/study).
Etymologically 
means science of 
society.
Evolution
Originally seen as 
social philosophy or 
philosophy of history, 
it evolved into a 
distinct social science.
No single definition is 
universally accepted 
due to diverse 
perspectives among 
sociologists, reflecting 
its broad scope.
Development of Sociology 
August Comte and the Birth of Sociology
Known as the father of sociology, Comte introduced "sociology" 
in 1839.
Goal of Sociology
His goal was to systematically study the social world and identify 
its underlying principles.
Establishment as a Discipline
Established sociology as a separate discipline focused on 
understanding societal dynamics and human behavior.
Scientific Approach
His work emphasized the need for a scientific approach to 
studying society.
Development of Sociology 
John Stuart Mill's Alternative
Proposed "ethology" as an alternative name for the 
science of society.
His suggestion was not widely adopted but sparked 
debate about the discipline's identity.
Mill's ethology studied character formation, impacting 
sociology and psychology.
Herbert Spencer's Contributions
Embraced and popularized the term sociology in his 
works.
Developed a systematic framework for studying society, 
focusing on social evolution and structure.
His efforts, alongside Comte's, helped cement sociology as a 
permanent academic discipline.
Defining Sociology
Defining sociology is complex due to its broad scope and 
varied interpretations by scholars.
Core Themes:
Science of Society: Examines human society and social 
behavior through scientific methods.
Human Behavior in Social Context: Studies how social 
forces, structures, and institutions shape individual 
actions and interactions.
Social Change and Stability: Analyzes processes of 
social change (e.g., evolution, adaptation) and stability 
(e.g., cultural values, economic systems, political 
structures).
Aims to uncover patterns, rules, and dynamics governing 
human interactions and social phenomena.