Analysis of How Sociology Developed as an Academic Discipline

Sociology, the systematic study of social behavior and society through the scientific method, has
not always been recognized as a formal discipline. The beginnings of sociology go back to
Ancient Greece where Aristotle developed the first system of sociologic analysis. Although the
majority of his theories were based on his personal feelings rather than factual happenings, his
research inspired future philosophes to question their environments and to study society.
Throughout time, and the change brought with it, the study of society and social behavior has
become a diverse, precise and renowned academic discipline, being officially coined sociology
by a pioneer in the field, August Comte, in the 1800s. In totality, to most sociologists, sociology
is the study of the various aspects of society and interactions within it to promote a better crosscultural, and general, understanding in order to lead to a more harmonious society.
Early Influences
In the late 1700s-1800s, France and other Western European countries went through what is
now known as the Age of Enlightenment (or also the Age of Reason). Newfound scientific
evidence, theories and studies provoked individuals to begin to question the overly religious and
superstitious propaganda metaphorically spoon-fed to them since birth by whomever rule/ruler
under which they resided. As can be imagined, in this period of time, mass media was not
readily available. Enlightened artists and writers worked to spread and promote the ideas of
early sociology, but the audience as to whom this artwork was available to was limited. However
the ideas did reach some whose lives were changed, an especially relevant group of inquisitive
minds worth noting are Charles Montesquieu, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Jacques Turgot.
These men were self-defined philosophes, one who trampling on prejudice, tradition, universal
consent, and authoritydares to think for himself, to go back and search for the clearest
general principles, and to admit nothing except on the testimony of his own experience and
reason (Kramnick qtd. Kendall 11), as they defined it to be. I also find worth in mentioning that
this is also around the time that Free Masonry became an established secret society promoting
similar ideals of early sociologists. Despite these breakthroughs, the widespread practice of
sociology didnt really catch on until widespread drastic changes in the individuals life caused
by rapid governmental revolutions, industrialization and in turn urbanization, caused more
people to seek out the reasons and solutions to the societal and social problems they were
facing.
Early Sociologists
One of the first sociologists of modern relevance is August Comte (1798-1857), who actually
gave the practice its name. He stressed that the methods of science should be applied in
practicing sociology in order to achieve factual and relevant information. Another relevant
sociologist who promoted sociologic study be conducted in a scientific manner is Max Weber,
Weber emphasized that sociology should be value free research should be conducted in a
scientific manner and should exclude the researchers personal values and economic interests.
(Turner, Beeghley, and Powers qtd. Kendall 19). Sociologist Harriet Martineau is also of great
importance in reference to Comte because she condensed and translated his work, making it
more available for research, insight, and secondary analysis. Although Comte didnt conduct
any notable research, his theories of societal structure are so relevant he is considered to be
the founding father of sociology. Comte theorizes that societies contain social statics (forces for
social order and stability) and social dynamics (forces for conflict and change) (Kendall 13). An

example of Comtes social conflict dynamic could be linked to Herbert Spencers theory of social
Darwinism. Social forces that cause conflict lead the strongest of the race to overcome said
conflict and excel. Spencer believed that societies developed through a process of struggle
(for existence) and fitness (for survival), which he referred to as survival of the fittest. (Kendall
14). Karl Marx, famous for the term Marxism, further theorizes the social class conflict, stating
that it is necessary for the advancement of the society. He theorized the small population of
wealthy peoples, the capitalist class, exploit the poor, working class leading them to feel
insecure and estranged, eventually leading to an overturn of the classes. George Simmel (18581918) also believed that the class conflict was becoming more prominent in relevancy to
industrialization and urbanization. Simmel linked the increase in individualism as a result of
these newly social situations caused by urbanization/industrialization, He also linked the
increase in individualism, as opposed to concern for the group, to the fact that people now had
many cross-cutting social spheres membership in a number of different organizations and
voluntary associations rather than having the singular community ties of the past. (Kendall
20).
Modern Sociologists
Moving into the 1900s, sociology took on more of the functionalist perspective, functionalist
perspectives are based on the idea that society is a stable, orderly system. (Kendall 23). The
practice was beginning to focus on the stability of society and the individual and their role and
contribution to society and its affects rather than social structure struggle. Talcott Parsons
(1902-1979) theorized all societies must provide for meeting social needs in order to survive.
(Kendall 23). He goes into further detail his belief of the meaning and importance of a persons
different roles, also those of institutions, and their importance in maintaining the cultural society.
Functionalism is analyzed further by Robert K. Merton (1910-2003), who discovered the
difference of latent and manifest functions in social institutions. Manifest functions are intended
and/or overtly recognized by the participants in a social unitlatent functions are unintended
functions that are hidden and remain unacknowledged by participants. (Kendall 23).
All of the aforementioned sociologists made major contributions as to how we approach
sociology today. The feminist movement and desegregation of fairly recent timing greatly
broadened the field of sociology, adding major contributions and diversity of study and
understanding, promoting an even greater understanding of society and even the discipline of
sociology. Through secondary analysis we can better understand the theories of the pioneers in
sociology by analyzing and comparing works and coming to our own conclusion using the
sociologic imagination and the scientific method. This widespread accessibility of information
makes modern sociology much more insightful and factual. The large variety of media
accessible to the majority of the people on Earth make sociology almost an everyday without
even realizing it. Viewing, hearing, reading, and/or etc., of other people and social situations
broadens our knowledge and understanding of humans and interactions. In conclusion, with the
perseverant work of many sociologists, the never-ending change and evolution of the individual
and society, the drive and compassion to understand one another, and the humorously diverse

human spirit and culture, sociology is practiced passionately and is a scientific, factual, and
renowned academic practice.

Bunga ng hindi pagkakasunduan sa lipunan noong panahon ng kadiliman o Dark Ages,

nagsimulang magtanong ang mga tao. Ang mahabang panahong dominado ng paniniwalang
panrelihiyon at kontrolado ng mga hari ay nawawalan na ng pagkontrol sa lipunan. Nagsimula
nang magtanong ang mga tao sa lipunan kung talaga bang dapat sumunod sa utos ng mga hari
at kung totoong ang niloloob ng Diyos ang ipinatutupad ng simbahan.
Sa pasilang ng Panahon ng Kaliwanagan, ibat ibang mga pagbabago ang naganap sa lipunan.
Mga pagbabagong nakaapekto ng lubos sa buong sambayan. Isa rito ang rebolusyong
industriyal. Bago nagkaroon ng biglaang pagbabago sa industriya, mahaba ang panahong
inilalagi ng mga tao sa kanilang tahanan. Dito lamang sila gumagawa ng kanilang mga
ikinabubuhay. Isang sistemang kinasanayan nila sa mahabang panahon. Subalit dahil nga sa
rebolusyong industriyal, nagbago ang lahat. Naging manggagawa sila sa mga malalaking
pagawaan na nagbunga ng pagbabago sa dating nakasanayang sa bahay lamang sila
nagtatrabaho.
Bunga rin ng pangyayaring ito ang paglago pa ng maraming problemang panlipunan.
Nagkaroon ng mga lugar na mauunlad na kasabay rin ng problema sa kawalan ng matitirahan
ng mga mahihirap at pagtaas ng krimen. Ang dating lipunang pinagtitibay ng personal na
ugnayan ay naging lipunan ng mga hindi magkakakilala.
Nagbigay daan ang mga pagbabagong ito sa lipunan upang mag-isip ang mga tao. Nararapat
bang ibalik sa dating kaayusan o bigyang solusyon ang mga problema ng lipunan. Sa ganitong
sitwasyon, mahalagang mapag-aralan nang maayos ang lipunan. Dito naisip ng mga intelektwal
na maaaring gamitin ang pamamaraang ginagamit sa hard sciences upang masuring lubos ang
pangyayari sa lipunan.
Sa ganitong kaganapan isinilang ang Sosyolohiya
Si Auguste Comte
Ang mga nangyayari sa lipunan tulad ng pang-aapi sa mga manggagawa ay hindi problema. Ito
ang batas ng kalikasan. Kailangang tanggapin ng mga manggagawa ang kanilang kalagayan.
Ito ang pananaw ni Auguste Comte sa mga nangyayari sa lipunan noong binuo niya ang
terminolohiyang sosyolohiya. Para sa kanya, hindi kailangang magkaroon ng rebolusyon
bagkus ay tanggapin ng mamamayan ang naghaharing sitema.
Si Herbert Spencer

Ang mga nangyayari sa lipunan ay bunga ng ebolusyon. Ang lipunan ay magmumula sa

pinakababang antas patungo sa pinakmataas na antas dahil ito ang sadyang landasin ng
lipunan. Dahil ganito ang sitwasyon, hindi dapat tulungan ang mga naghihirap sapagkat
nangangahulugan itong hindi sila nararapat sa pinakamataas na antas ng lipunan.
Si Karl Marx
Ang yaman ng mga kapitalista ay mula sa pagsasamantala sa mga manggagawa. Hindi dapat
hawak ng iilang naghaharing uri ang pamamaraan sa produksyon at ang sistema ng
produksyon. Hindi katanggap-tanggap at hindi maaaring tanggaping ganito ang sistema.
Darating ang panahong hahawakan ng mga manggagawa ang pamamaraan sa prodiksyon at
ang sistema ng produksyon. Aagawin nila ito sa pamamagitan ng rebolusyon.
Si Emile Durkheim
Problema ng lipunan ang kawalan ng kaayusan. Kailangang tuklasin ng sosyolohiya ang paraan
upang maging balanse ito. Kailangang tingnan ang kabuuang interes ng lipunan upang
magkaroon ng organic solidarity. Hindi sosyalismo ang kailangan.
Si Max Weber
Ang sistemang kapitalismo ay hindi bunga ng tunggalian bagkus bunga ito ng isang ideya at
paniniwala ng tao. Dahil sa paniniwala ng mga Protestanteng dapat silang mag-impok upang
mas higit na makatulong, lumago ang kanilang naipong salapi na nagsilang sa sistemang
kapitalismo.
Pinipili rin umano ng uring kinabibilangan ng tao kung ano ang mga pagkakataong maaabot ng
bawat nilalang. Kapag may kaya ang tao, malaki ang posibilidad na makatatapos ng pag-aaral
na kabaligtaran sa sitwasyon ng mahihirap.
Ang mga usaping ito ay naganap sa Europa noong ika-19 na siglo. Maaaring sabihing
sinumulan nilang pag-aralan kung paano maisasaayos ang lipunan.
May mga kaisipang ang pag-aaral sa lipunan ay nagsimula pa noong ika-14 na siglo at
sinimulan ito ni Ibn Khaldun na isang muslim. Sa librong Muqaddimah, sinasabing nagkakaroon
ng pagkakaisa ang bawat grupo nang hindi sinasadya kundi bunga ng pangangailangan.
Maaaring maging matagumpay ang bawat grupo subalit dala pa rin nito ang binhi ng sarili
nitong pagbagsak at maaaring palitan ng panibagong grupo na mas malakas at may mas
matibay ang pagkakaisa.

Kasaysayan ng Sosyolohiya
Auguste Comte (1798- 1857)
-Pilosopong Pranses na nag simula ng sistematikong sosyolohiya

-Dapat pag- aralan ang lipunan sa kabuuan-- isang yunit ng agham ang sosyolohiya.
Sosyolohiya sa Pilipinas
Emile Durkheim (1858- 1917)
-Iskolar na Pranses na nag palawak ng pamamaraan ng sosyolohiya sa pamamagitan ng
paggamit ng pamaaraang siyentipiko sa mga agham na pisikal sa pag-aaral ng panlipunang
penomena.
Herbert Spencer (1802- 1903), Franklin H. Goddings (1855- 1931), Edward A. Ross (18661951)
-Ang sosyolohiya sa Amerika ay lubusang ibinatay sa kanilang mga pag- aaral.
Ang kauna- unahang Departamento ng Sosyolohiya ay itinatag sa Unibersidad ng Chicago na
pinamunuan ni Albion W. Small.
Ang sosyolohiya ay ang pag-aaral ng mga alituntunin ng lipunan at mga proseso na binibigkis at
hinihiwalay ang mga tao di lamang bilang mga indibiduwal kundi bilang kasapi ng mga
asosasyon, grupo, at institusyon.
Tinatawag ito sa isang kahulugan sa tipikong aklat na ang pag-aaral sa mga buhay panlipunan
ng mga tao, grupo, at lipunan.
Interesado ang sosyolohiya sa ating pag-uugali bilang nilalang na marunong makisama; sa
ganitong paraan sinasakop ng nagustuhang larangan sa sosyolohiya mula sa pagsusuri ng
maiikling pakikitungo sa pagitan ng di magkakilalang indibiduwal sa daan hanggang sa pagaaral ng proseso ng pandaigdigang lipunan.
1896- Itinuro ni Oadre Valentin Marin ang unang kurso sa sosyolohiya sa Unibersidad ng Sto.
Tomas.
1900- May idinagdag na kurso sa Penolohiya at Kriminolohiya
1911- Itinuro ang kauna- unahang organisadong kurso sa sosyolohiya sa Unibersidad ng
Pilipinas nina Propesor A.E.W. Salt at Murray Barlett (Pangulo ng UP)
1919- Itinuro ni Clyde E. Helfin ang sosyolohiya sa Siliman University.