Chapter - 4 An Introduction To Social Sciences 4.1 Social Sciences: An Overview

Chapter 4 An Introduction to Social Sciences
CHAPTER - 4
An Introduction to Social Sciences
4.1 Social Sciences: An Overview
In present times, Social Sciences may be looked upon as a discipline wherein

scientific methods are being used to everything pertaining to social domain. A Social
Science is something which is concerned with the analysis of human groups,
collectivities, and communities (Duverger, 1964). Prior to discussing the concept and
historical development of the Social Sciences in depth, an attempt should be made to
have a brief overlook about the fact and the ideas behind the emergence of Social
Sciences and accentuate its flow from a single contemplation to that of a broad
umbrella linking multiple fields.
In so far as the origin of the field of Social Sciences is concerned, no

distinctive date has been given , but it is accepted that the “Social Sciences” started to
appear along explanation and its distinction on “prudence, judgment, and
methodology as implied to the empirical world” (“Social Sciences,” 2008).1 To be
conscious about the traces of the origin of their fundamental ideas and objectives, one
must go farther in time to prehistoric Greek and their rationalist investigation into the
character of man, status, and ethics. Lynn McDonald was one among those scholars,
who asserted that the sixth century be the period of the establishment of Social
Science (McDonald, 2008). Above and beyond until the eighteenth century, there was
the primitive confusion between Science and Philosophy, and only a few authors
showed a scientific rather than a philosophical attitude in their works. In the
eighteenth century when the works of 16th and 17th century became more frequent,
the idea of a rigorous separation between Science and Philosophy emerged, but still, it
was a philosophical approach which predominated in the period and the notion of an
autonomous Social Science had not been generally accepted. On a same note Maurice
Duverger also argued that till eighteenth century there was no distinct form of
research but it was the Social Philosophy rather than a Social Science which was
practiced having a “Philosophical attitude” which put light to an original scientific
1
Social Sciences. (2008). In International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences (p.614). New York:
Macmillan.
63
prominence and it persisted for centuries. One should not ignore the efforts of
Auguste Comte, who for the first time put life to the concept of Social Sciences with
its separate disciplines, by coining the term Sociology. His social scheme was based
on a Philosophy called Positivism, which gave impetus to the shift from Social
Philosophy to Social Sciences. Last, of all, it was the nineteenth century when
scientific attitude began to predominate and competitive Social Sciences were to be
found (Duverger, 1964).
4.2 The Concept of Social Sciences
Social Science field has lot of significance to the human life than the other
ones. It emerged purposely in the beginning of 19th century having “positivist
Philosophy of Science” as did many other branches of knowledge (Hunt & Colander,
2017). The man was said to be a Political animal because of its political capacities
resulted from the organized state in contrast to the wild life of savages. Later on, the
observation that man was a political animal was broadened into the view that he was a
Social Animal (Ogburn & Nimkoff, 1968). From all the definitions and concepts it
can be stated that, Social Sciences are concerned with the man as a social being, it is
all about the study of society and the people’s approach they exhibit and persuade the
world around them. It seeks to “objectify the sentiments, ideas, and values which on
the subjective side are the subject matter of the humanities, and it strives to
communicate an understanding of the interpersonal relations that constitute the
foundations of any community”(Naftalin, 1952).
4.3 Definitions
As of the Webster’s third international dictionary, Social Science is “the

branch of Science that deals with the institutions and functioning of human society
and with the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of society”
(“Social Sciences,” 1996)2
Collins dictionary typifies Social Science as “the study of society and of the
relationship of individual members within society, including Economics, History,
Political Science, Psychology, Anthropology, and Sociology” (“Social Science,”
2
Social Science. (1966). In Webster’s third International Dictionary of the English language
unabridged (Vol. 2, p.2162). Springfield, MA: Marriam Webster.
64
n.d.).3 In addition to it, according to Encyclopedia Britannica, the Social Sciences

“deals with human behavior in its social and cultural aspects, including the following
disciplines: Anthropology, Sociology, Economics, Political Science, and the study of
International Relations” (“Social Sciences,” 1996).4
According to Charles A. Beard, “a Social Science is a body of knowledge and

thought pertaining to human affairs as distinguished from sticks, stones, stars, and
physical objects” (Beard, 1935). Furthermore, E.S.R.A. Seligman and Alvin Johnson
defined Social Science as “those mental or cultural Sciences which deal with activities
of the individual as a member of group” (Seligman & Johnson, 1934).
Last but not least, the Investopedia define Social Sciences as “A group of
academic disciplines that examine society and how people interact and develop as a
culture. Social Science as a field of study is separate from the Natural Sciences, which
cover topics such as Physics and Chemistry. Economics, Political Science, History,
Law, and Geography can be considered Social Sciences” (“Social Sciences,” n.d.).5
4.4 Historical Development of Social Sciences
The historical evolution of Social Science is of great interest because of the

various disciplines as they are recognized today developed during the period. To the
extent the development of Social Sciences is concerned there were two contrary
tendencies that dominated the disciplines that formed the Social Sciences. The
primitive mystification which persisted for centuries was towards the unification to a
single master Social Science and the succeeding propensity was towards the sharing
out of individual Social Sciences which succeeded and the results were seen in the
formation of separate highly specialized disciplines, hence replacing Social Science
with Social Sciences. Taking above anecdote as guiding considerations we can
delineate three great periods in the development of Social Sciences (Duverger, 1964).
3
Social Science. (n.d.). In Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved January 7, 2016, from
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/social-science
4
Social Science (1996). In The New Encyclopedia Britannica (15th ed.)(Vol. 27, pp. 316-320).
Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica Inc.
5
Social Sciences. (n.d.). Retrieved January 9, 2016, from
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/social-Science.asp
65
4.4.1. The Primitive confusion between Science and Philosophy
In this period Social Philosophy rather than Social Science was practiced and
it persisted for centuries and has not entirely disappeared. Until the 18th century there
where only a few authors in whose work a scientific rather than a Philosophical
attitude predominated and the number increased considerably and it was the 19th
century when the scientific attitude began to predominate.
4.4.1.1 General characteristics of the period
In order to study the principles of an ideal organization, it is important to study

the working of an existing social organization: social philosophers were thus drawn
towards Social Science.
1. The predominance of the philosophical and moral point of view. It was a mass
of normative considerations of a moral or philosophical nature in which Social
Science was embedded in its original form. Depending on the author the
proposition of scientific observation relative to normative considerations
varied. The dominance of normative point of view was found in every case it
was it, which guided the activities of the researcher and in turns, the moral and
metaphysical doctrines laid their reflection in the form of first scientific
theories.
2. The importance of collected observations. As far as the contribution of this
early period to the development of Social Science is concerned it in itself is of
greater importance. This period witnessed many writers which were acute and
energetic observers. Two intellectual temperaments were nearly always
present: one inclined to reflect on information already available, the other to
seek new information. It were the writers of this period who left profuse
observations which were often more valuable than their general theories these
theories sometimes created obstacles to the development of the Social
Sciences.
4.4.1.2 The Main Stages
Discussing main stages of this period, let we put it into limit by pointing out to
some essential landmarks, one is the link with Metaphysical doctrine and the other is
66
the quasi-permanent opposition that exhibits between the temperaments of the

Philosophers and the observers. If quoting the example of the antiquity of Plato and
Aristotle. It is true that Plato with abstract reasoning as the main analytical tool was
essentially a Philosopher while as Aristotle had a remarkable talent for observation,
and that his Philosophical reflection is based on wide and varied empirical research,
his starting point was Philosophical and the basis of his conception of society was his
metaphysics. While on the other hand, one finds in Plato an ‘attempt at a scientific
treatment of economic and social facts.’ In the middle Ages Social Philosophy had
been alike the Christian religion and morality, the great synthesis of Saint Thomas
Aquinas has the range of Plato: but the scientific element in social research tends to
be less. It was for the first time when Treatise on the first invention of money (1370)
by Nicholas Oresme was in itself the first example of an experimental work and also
marks the birth of a particular Social Science: Political Economy.
This period results in the disruption of the old intellectual framework by the
Renaissance and Reformation, and the great voyages of discovery made new societies
known to western European men thus favoring the experimental tendencies. In the
same period originally, the “Statistics” and predecessor of the “Political Science”
made its appearance in Italy, and further in 1615, Antoine de Montchretien published
the first treatise on Political Economy. In the second half of the 16th and 17th century,
the writings of Gentilis, Althusius, Grotius, and Pufendorf witnessed the beginning of
the theory of ‘natural right’ and a juridical social Philosophy. These were the
foundations on which Locke developed the doctrine of Political Liberalism.
4.4.1. The Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries: Foundation of an Autonomous

Social Science
The works of the 16th and 17th centuries became more frequent in the 18th
century which leads the idea of a rigorous separation between Science and
Philosophy. In this period the Philosophical approach still predominated and also the
idea of the social law, the notion of an autonomous Social Science had not been
generally accepted. The authors of this period were not able to clearly delimit the field
of Social Science and also were failed to define its purpose. It is the Auguste Comte
whose contribution is of importance in this respect and Karl Marx in his way also
67
added the same importance by establishing the objective and relative character of
social phenomena, which was essential to the constitution of Sociology as a Science.
In 1820’s Auguste Comte (a French thinker) for the first time, describes the
scientific study of human society, and coined the term “Sociology,” his Sociological
system was having a base of a viewpoint called “Positivism” he put an argument
about the ideas, that they generally pass through 3 rising stages, “Theological,
Philosophical and Scientific” among which the third one he called “Positive stage”
subjugated by scientific consideration. This framework however was rejected by
many and fails to extend different fields within the Social Sciences. In the beginning
of the development, the approach that was opted by the parts of “United States and
Europe” was the rise of social research by conducting large statistical surveys. This
was followed by Emile Durkheim by initiating the other way of investigating “Social
facts.” Furthermore in the way of development the 3rd approach was championed by
information as Max Weber, developed identifying the collective phenomena, this was
followed by increasingly common efforts to make affect of equations with the
proclamations concerning human behavior. The primary was the "Laws of philology,”
that endeavored to plot revolutionize over point of sounds in a language (Hoerl,
2017). Comte along with others like Bentham, Marx, and Spencer perceive the study
of the social order as an amalgamated endeavor (Nisbet, 2017).6 At times they may
perhaps have mocked at some conception of distinct fields of Economics, with the
Political Science, the Sociology and many more (“Social sciences,” n.d.).7
4.4.2. The Twentieth-Century expansion of Social Science
It was however in the end of 19th century when the opposite tendency of
single master Social Science won as some, separate Social Sciences are brought into
being. Now in the 20th century, no one talks about Social Science as a singular but of
the Social Sciences. Sociology as a Science of synthesis covers the various specialist
sociologies. For the same, in late 19th century Auguste Comte and other French
Sociologist were much opposed to this and hence they affirmed the unity of Social
Science, but they have not been followed.
6
Nisbet, R. A. (2017). Social Science. In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved on March 21, 2017 from
https://www.britannica.com/topic/social-science
7
Social Sciences. (n.d.). Retrieved January 9, 2016 from
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Social_Sciences
68
4.4.3.1. The striving for the unity of Social Science
The 20th-century occurrence was not responsible for growth of particular

“Social Sciences.” It antedates separation of Social Sciences from Philosophy. When
there was some dominance of metaphysical and moral considerations over the Social
Science still there were some specialist disciplines which were found on the basis of
the experimental method. Political economy was one among them: based on
empirical observation the Treatise on the invention of money by Nicolas Oresme has
already been mentioned as one of the best works of the time. In the 18th century, the
then Adam Smith recognized Political Economy separated from Philosophy.
Sociology of History being less developed than the Political Economy and
demography, nevertheless tended to form a separate discipline.
In the 19th century, the then founders of Sociology reacted against the tendency
of the division of the Social Sciences; they criticized the separate development of
political economy. Even Marx whose Sociology is based on the assumption of the
strict interdependence of all social phenomena laid stress even more strongly on the
unity of Social Science: none could be validly analyzed in isolation. Economic
phenomena being a burst with the fundamental character seems to permit the
development of Political Economy in isolation. Political economy cannot be isolated
from the Sociology because those economic facts are subjected to the influence of
other elements of social reality. History is social reality and thus social reality does
not exist outside History, this interpretation of History in Sociology is a fundamental
principle of Marxism.
4.4.3.2. The contemporary multiplication of specialist disciplines
In this modern time same as the other disciplines, Social Science has also gone
for contemporary multiplication and has been broken into more specialist disciplines.
It was the necessity of the day, the complexity of social facts and the diversity of
techniques made specialization be anticipated. It is not the unification which leads to
progressive social research. Even in Marxist countries which are known and are
having the great concern for unity has their experts in a sector of social research but
the point to be drawn out here is that they don’t lose sight of the general connections
69
between social phenomena as deeper they go they should preserve an awareness of

the relations between it and other parts of social life.
On one hand, there was a specialization of Social Science and on the other the
absence of a general theory of the Social Sciences. One can say that the unity of the
Social Sciences is guaranteed by the specialists in the USSR and the other socialist
countries. It is much more difficult to maintain the unity of Social Science if an
acceptance and a belief of Marxist cosmogony do not exist. There is no generally
accepted cosmogony in western countries with the result of which social scientist are
reduced to constructing partial theories within the framework of each discipline hence
resulting in the lost sight of the connection between all social phenomena. As far as
departmentalization in the Universities is concerned not only the departments but the
other formative training in the Social Sciences has further aggravated the tendency
towards division. There is not only one way or option to enter to the Social Sciences
but many routes e.g. Statistics, Philosophy, Psychology, Medicine, etc. besides all this
multiplication and departmentalization at the times one could not ignore the reactions
against the splitting up of the Social Sciences. One has never doubted the coherence
of the social phenomena as well as the profound unity of the Social Sciences thus
there has been a search to remedy the Proliferation of the specialists’ discipline.
The training of ‘specialists in generalities’ could be one of the methods

recommended by Auguste Comte. The second method would be to construct a
generally acceptable doctrine, which would provide a cosmogony of the same kind of
framework and basic Philosophy as the Marxists have. But till date, no one has yet
been able to provide the one. The third method is the trend of the present times which
consists of specialists in each of the discipline collaborating on a common research
project. In other words, interdisciplinary research is becoming more fashionable. To
the degree that the progress aboard Social Sciences domain is concerned, it seems that
the phase of relative reunification is commencing leaving the fragmentation one
behind. But the difficulties and limits of such an enterprise should not be obscured.
4.4.3. Social Sciences in the Twenty-First Century
It is difficult to discern the Social Science’s way on the brink of the 21st
century. Instead of increasing attacks from postmodernist thinkers, there are internal
70
divisions confronting the Social Sciences which provide the reason for concern. One
of the reasons that create some level of worry for future directions is the absence of
grandly accepted theory. Despite such kind of apprehension still, some branches of
Social Sciences like Economics and Psychology are gaining stature in present days.
The weight-age given to Economics is because the place of importance given in the
business place as forecaster of several parts of human conduct; and to Psychology is
because of its increasing attachments with the field of “Biological Sciences.”
Besides Economics and Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology are also

among the positive developments in the field. Since the 1960s by virtue of these two
fields, the fame gained results in plotting the way through which an increasing figure
of minority scholars found their way to Social Sciences. Social Sciences found its
place not only in governmental entities but also in corporate firms tackling everyday
issues confronting society. Furthermore, other disciplines together with women’s
studies are also in one way or the other associated with Social Sciences and have
positively contributed to the discipline (Duverger, 1964).
4.5 Social Sciences in Modern Day Society
The aim of Social Sciences is same as of the other Sciences to gather

knowledge about different aspects of nature to serve mankind (Halayya, 1961). It
aims to give the scientific value of certain social phenomena, such phenomena might
consist patterns of behavior, social institutions, or social changes (Hoerl, 2017).
Social Sciences intend to develop an understanding of society and to identify the
challenges and positivity of existing in a world having different ethnicities and
philosophies (OCadiz, 2017). Social Science having concern for people, provide light
for the development of efficient and useful communal plan to endorse wellbeing of
mankind, and on the other side of the coin, it has also potential to be utilized in
unethical ways for destructive purposes, mostly when utilized by regime and armed
institutions. Generally, it is because of the attention and regard paid to the Social
Sciences that destructive aspect of scientific inventions has gained the upper hand.
However, people all over the world are realizing that there has been a lop-sided
development of Science.
71
In present scenario there is an increase in the number of courses offered by

different institutes; where from students has the open choice to choose. Sometimes
because of its stress upon human conduct and human dealings with the social as well
as physical surroundings, Social Sciences are criticized for the reason that of its less
scientific being than “Natural Sciences” The study of Social Sciences is considered to
play a more important part in expansion of the humankind (Fenton, 2008) Social
Science in itself has a wide scope, comprising of many disciplines including
“Anthropology, Archeology, Economics, Geography, History, Linguistics, Library
and Information Science, Media studies, Political Science, Psychology, Social work,
and Sociology”.
Hallaya has also defined the scope of Social Sciences like comparative
religion, Politics, Economics, Criminology, Ethics, Anthropology, History, Social
Geography etc. (Halayya, 1961).
4.6 Social Sciences: Characteristics and Disciplines
Social Science is concerned about the Society, hence has direct influence on
socio-cultural facets of person conduct. It covers an extensive spectrum of knowledge,
having a number of fields in its domain. An assortment of branches of the Social
Sciences is highlighted, from which the prominent fields of the time are discussed
below.
4.6.1 Anthropology
Anthropology is nothing but the study about the origin of humans, their
behavior including physical set up, and all about their social development, or it can be
put forth that it is the connection among “biological traits and socially acquired
characteristics.” Anthropology is the extensive field with various studies under its
domain that can be classified into broader fields: “Cultural Anthropology, Physical
Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, and Archaeology” (Kelly, 1970).
4.6.2 Economics
Economics is the study of the economic system i.e. the research about
“production, distribution, and consumption” of the material commodities and services
supposed to fulfill basic needs of persons with groups in human societies
72
(“Economics,” 1996). Economics, in other words, aims to explain, guide and foresee
social arrangements by which people satisfy economic needs. According to “Adam
Smith” Economics is “the Science of wealth,” while as, “Alfred Marshall” stated
Economics as “the study of men in the ordinary business of life,” and American
economist other than others believed “that Economics is what economists do”
(Hoseltiz, 1972). Economics is categorized into two broader subfields: Macro
Economics and Micro Economics. Macro Economics is of broader spectrum and
highlights “national-scale” economies with their connections, whereas Micro
Economics is narrower in scope as it leans to concentrate on relations among
“agencies, corporations, and individuals.” Some of the topics that Economics includes
are supply and demand, Monetary and fiscal policy, Costs, Inflation, and
unemployment.
Economics was, however, the first subject that was distinguished as a particular
Science. The 18th century witnessed the surfacing of the concept of independency
associated in the “developments of wealth, operations of prices, rents, interest, and
wages” of ‘Physiocrats and Adam Smiths’ which acted as a concrete base of distinct
Economics (“Economics,” 1996). In Society which is “an organized group of persons
associated together for religious, benevolent, cultural, scientific, political, patriotic, or
other purposes” (“Society,” n.d.), and which needs to be first-rate in all aspects,
Economics plays a great role. So being the Science of wealth Economics is important
for many areas of society as it helps to improve the living standards by providing a
means for analyzing government policies as well as to understand interactions in a
market driven society and also helps to manage the finite resources such as time and
money that affect the whole being of humans thus in turn make society a better place
to live (Economics help, 2017).
4.6.3 Education
The term Education is comes out of two Latin words “Educere and
Educatum.” In which Educere is to teach and Educatum signifies the art of training.
Education since from the times of Plato to the modern times of John Dewey and
Gandhi has been defined in various ways by different Educationists. T. Raymon is
one among those Educationists, according to whom “Education is that process of
development which consists the passage of a human being from infancy to maturity,
73
the process whereby he adapts himself gradually in various ways to his physical and
spiritual environment.” In addition to this Drever defined “Education as a process in
which and by which knowledge, character, and behavior of the young are shaped and
moulded” (Saxena, 2008). In general perspective, Education is so vast and varied and
is utilized in three senses: knowledge, Subject, and a process. It can be drafted out of
the fact that Education is used as a process more than the subject or knowledge. As far
as the emergence of Education as a discipline is concerned, it is considered as an
extension solely for teacher Education and having no scope beyond it. However, there
are two different areas with different objectives and scope; one is teacher Education
which is directly involved in inculcating and improving teaching skills while other is
Education developed from teacher Education which now a day has been developed as
a wide field of study (Arti, 2014). In present times its scope is beyond our imagination
and encompasses not only teacher Education but also another field of study which
include: study like “woman Education, special Education, environmental Education
etc.”
The study of the Education as a discipline provides insight to develop

professionals for different systems of Education whether that is as a teacher, teacher
educators, officers, policy makers, and many others forming the concrete base of the
society. In the present era, one who needs to stay afloat in society must be able to
understand the difference between the right and the wrong, much possibility of
understanding the same is only doable for the people with the proper Education, those
who are uneducated cannot think on rational lines. Education is one among those
disciplines of Social Sciences which in present times have reached the high level of
excellence. As a discipline Education, educates the people thus avoiding societal
embarrassment, keeping up with evolutions, exposure to the world, helps to create the
peace around the globe by incorporating ethical values etc. (Kaviya, 2015). At last, it
can be concluded with the fact that Education is an integral part of our lives which
improve our position in the society.
4.6.4 Geography
Geography as a subject is a research on natural environment, its impact on

public and literary progress or it may be better understood as “the study of natural and
human constructed phenomena relative to a spatial dimension” (“Geography,” 1996).
74
According to Webster’s dictionary Geography is defined as “The Science which treats

of the world and its inhabitants; a description of the earth, or a portion of the earth,
including its structure, features, products, political divisions, and the people by whom
it is inhabited, which also includes the responses and adaptations of people to
topography, climate, soil and vegetation” (“Geography,” 1913). Famous scholars of
the time like Kant and Ritter have defined Geography as “the Science of earth as the
home of man” (Khullar, 2012). In context to other Social Sciences, Geography shares
the task of understanding man both in society and as a part of the total environment
and as a Social Science, it is anthropocentric and is concerned with questions of
human behavior to the same degree, though not in the same way, that the other Social
Sciences are. It has useful appliance manifest in “maps, trade patterns, industrial and
agricultural decisions, settlement of population, aggression, and acquisition.” Besides
placidity, Geography exhibits some concerns as: ecology, climate, resources,
accessibility, and demography (Singh Savindra, 2008).
To the extent that the historical development of Geography as a subject is

concerned, the studies are nearly 4000 years old, and they were the early Greeks, who
first made an outline of Geography. Furthermore, slowly and gradually Greek
philosophers and scientists who include Herodotus, Aristotle, Eratosthenes and
Ptolemy took interest in learning the different characteristics of natural and human
made phenomenon allied to a spatial aspect and concern in the subject carried on till
the present times (Pidwirny, 2016). Now many geographers teach and carry out the
research about the various concepts related to everyday life which enables us to
understand our activities and their effect on socio-cultural aspect ranging from
neighborhood to global. Today each of us are having a unique way of living and a
constant interactions with our surroundings and in order to attain higher quality of life
whether in terms of taking the leisure of transportation and navigation systems for
moving from one place to another or using global networks of computers and
satellites for communication Geographic knowledge and understanding is essential,
which in turn lead to the satisfying lives and will obviously contribute to the welfare
of the society.
75
4.6.5 History
History is what has previously happened. As far as subject matter of the

History subject is concerned, it is an organized way to acquire the knowledge and
investigate about the incidents already happened and their relationship with each other
and with current as well. History plays an important role in identifying, classifying,
arranging and patterning which consecutively bear the fruits in the “imposition of
order, appreciation of variety, possibilities of prediction and realization of limitation”
(Hunt & Colander, 2010).
It is not only the first record of human existence where from the beginning of
History comes but can be witnessed from a footprint of a first creature, from the first
trace. History has a great role to play in our daily life; it gives us the “today” by which
one is able to use it for profit and prosperity. We are living in the contemporary
society, where almost everyone faces problems or dangers these days. To encounter
such kind of circumstances everyone tries to shield or find out the solutions, in this
regard the History plays a great role in providing a frame of references that enables
one to recognize dangers to our society and make available a possible guidance to
come upon those dangers on their rise. If we have a closer look to the events that have
happened and which we consider History helps us to learn about the past which
sequentially facilitates the intellectual growth and development of an individual. For
the prosperity and well-being of the society, History can be considered as one of the
most important assets that we have. It has a direct impact on the present time society,
“something new is fairly forgotten old” (Benson, n.d.) or according to George
Santayana's famous aphorism “Those who do not remember the past are condemned
to repeat it” (Carter, 1992).
4.6.6 Library and Information Science
Library and Information Science is quite recent field, but its genesis may be
traced with the development of the Libraries. The term Library may be different for
different people, for some it is merely the collection of Documents, to some it is just
the place utilized for reading and studying (Issa, 2009). But only few people consider
it as the organized collection of documented knowledge available for use. At the
beginning the library science focused on the history and bibliography (description and
76
classification of documented knowledge). The two critical studies of Carnegie

Corporation led library science to become an academic field, the studies were on the
quality of library science education and other was the training for Library services.
Library and Information Science is an interdisciplinary domain associated

with the creation, management, and use of knowledge in whatever form. With the
passing time the library and information science field encompasses many diverse
activities, including the creation, communication, acquisition, organization,
management, and use of knowledge, this traces the development of the Library and
Information science as a separate field of study (Estabrook, 2009).
4.6.7 Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problem. Instead of

treating it like a separate discipline, it is split into many divisions. The study involves
the finding of the basic value and importance of life and revolves around to
investigate the association among “humanity and nature” which constitute separate
community. Thus Philosophy in general, can be defined as “a form of inquiry, a
process of analysis, criticism, interpretation, and speculation” (Jaspers, 1969). As of
Richard E. Creel’s point of view, “Philosophy is an open-ended, pioneering
discipline, forever opening up new areas of study and new methods of inquiry”
(Sirswal, 2014). Moreover, Oxford English dictionary defines Philosophy as “the
study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when
considered as an academic discipline” (“Philosophy,” 2016). As far as the History of
the Philosophy is concerned, the term is derived from “Greek philosophia”, which
means “love of wisdom” and it is not something passive which a person simply
possesses but is the active use of wisdom. The primordial Greek philosophers in early
500 B.C sought after answers by philosophy and researching life, later Philosophy for
a quite long time was in non-western civilizations and in China and India as well.
After the difficulties faced in terms of travel and communication “Western
Philosophy” generally developed independently of “eastern Philosophy” (Copleston,
1999).
Philosophy being study regarding the life has had enormous influence on our
everyday life; it helps us to find whatever is essential for us and most importantly the
77
wisdom for shaping our lives. It would not be wide of the mark if it can be said that
every sector of society is having base of philosophic ideas whether that is the “law,
government, religion, the life, marriage, business or Education.” “All human beings
by nature desire to understand” these lines by Aristotle has answered the question of
asking what the use of understanding is and has put light on the very fact that human
being is always perplexed by essential inquiries about the being and all concerning to
it (Joad, 1975). In today’s era, it is important that what kind of philosophical ideas
people are having, are they having the democratic type or they are occupying the non-
democratic type The prosperity and success of society are all about the values and
skills taught to the people thus reflecting the society’s philosophical ideas.
4.6.8 Political Science
Political Science like other disciplines of Social Sciences is also having a

broader scope field of study. The field in itself is relatively recent and predominantly
American. According to R.N Gilchrist, “Political Science deals with the state and
government.” Akin to this Blusntschli defines Political Science “as a Science, which
is concerned with the state, endeavor to understand and comprehend the state in its
essential nature, various forms, manifestations; and development” (Eulau, 1972).
Political Science is further fragmented in many sub fields which include: political
theory, public administration, comparative politics, public law, International Relations
and political methodology. From all the definitions and theories, Political Science can
be known as an investigation of influence and its reassignment all the way through
political conduct. In so far the development of the Political Science is concerned
credit of incorporation of the study goes to the many graduated systems of U.S
politics; international organizations; International Relations; comparative politics, and
political theory. The breadth of U.S politics deals with the society in which we live
today (Darity, 2006).
Being one of the prominent subjects of Social Science, Political Science

teaches us to look for one another and cooperate with those around us to improve our
society. It plays a great responsibility in fostering future of the people by giving them
the power to educate others in the direction of having an impact on the state. One
should not ignore the fact that, Political Science forms the base of the society, and in
fact, it has become essential for all political leaders, diplomats, and elected officials to
78
have sound knowledge of Political Science so that can perform their jobs to the best
of their ability. On the other hand what we witness now days is quite different,
political leaders are unable to manage the state of affairs and in due course they find it
difficult to make best possible decisions for their constituents which can be well
understood with the fact that political scientists may be often found advising
politicians or sometimes running political office themselves. To cope up with the
change that is going on in the contemporary society, the study of Political Science is
needed, not only for building peaceful and prosperous society but for most important
to form a concrete base for the development of the future of an individual too.
4.6.9 Psychology
In order to define the Psychology, let us trace its origin. It stems from the most
inexplicable and philosophical concept, the soul. Etymologically, Psychology the
Science of the mind is the study of the human soul on account of its derivation from
the two Greek words psyche which means breathe, spirit, self, and logia mean maxim
or general truth (Reitman, 1972). It is an offspring of the subject Philosophy which
aims to give us a better understanding of human complexity and development
potential. Along with, it also is related with the mentality and character of a person,
and has a tendency to explore the mind’s operation. Even though being the disciplines
of Social Sciences, it has undergone a change from one of sheer speculation to that of
scientific procedure; the subfields within Psychology are more of the same kind as
Natural Sciences (“Psychology,” 1996).
Psychology is of very much importance; it is applied in our daily lives and has
many implications in lots of things of life as well. It is the subject by which we are
able to learn about ourselves and by so we are able to learn about other people and
their differences. In the scenario where every being is surrounded by unending
anxiety or stress, Psychology helps of understanding how the mind and body work
and thus make one able to counter the complicated things, such as stress or any other
worst thing related to our body (Morris, 1996). As far as the importance of
Psychology in the present times is concerned, the fact of its importance can’t be put
out of sight within society as it has significantly grown over the years. One of the
reasons behind its importance may be because of the work which is already done or
still in progress on many life-risking diseases such as, “Parkinson's disease,
79
Alzheimer's disease, and many other neurological diseases.” It is because of its virtue,
today we know more about these diseases in comparison to the past and scientists too
are now able to produce the effective medicines for the treatment of these diseases.
Some other importance’s that can be penned down includes the building of
relationships, improving communication, building self-confidence, and enriching
careers (Silverman, 1985). Overall, it can be deduced from the fact, that Psychology
being the study of the human soul has a direct impact on the human brain and in turn
to the society as well.
4.6.10 Sociology
Prior the emergence of Sociology, the society was not even in the eyes of any
Sciences alike its study. It was Auguste Comte whom to the credit of being the first
who coined the word Sociology in France in his Positive Philosophy published in
1838 is given. Sociology is organized research of associations amongst people and
involves scientific investigation of how social relationships and common normative
orientations influence patterns of conduct, and how social conduct under various
conditions, in turn, leads to modification of the social structure. Outlined from the
above lines, it is clear that Sociology in one way or the other deals with the social life
and because of its relationship with the society; it is often called the study of society
or of social life (Blau, 1969).
The Sociology plays an unprecedented role in the present day society, as its
study helps in the development of the individual and also enables them to serve them
better by suggesting suitable measures for restrengthening them. Despite being a
complex phenomenon, its study is essential for understanding and setting up of
society. In this present arena where suffering problems have become common man's
routine, Sociology as a light of hope counters the public troubles and helps to control
the social life for the improvement. It can be concluded that Sociology has an overall
impact on Human life as it keeps well known about the contemporary conditions.
Please Note: As the present research on KMS has been conducted at Aligarh
Muslim University (AMU), with its focus on the Social Scientists including Faculty
and Researchers, it is worthwhile at this juncture to deal with the AMU and its
Faculty of Social Sciences in general and the Social Scientists working in different
capacities in particular. The later will form the target users for the design and
development of KMS in Social Sciences.
80
4.7 Aligarh Muslim University: A Historical Perspective
The Aligarh Muslim University one of the leading Universities of India has
an extended and well known past. The credit for its development goes to Sir Syed
Ahmad Khan, a dynamic Scholar, a great visionary, Progressive, Social reformer and
a messenger of a peace and communal harmony. Along with his other distinguished
companions during 1875 Sir Syed Ahmad Khan put life to his dream of formation of a
Muslim university when an establishment of a small school was put forth. This school
later in 1877 became Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College and was regarded
as an antecedent of future university. Initially, the MAO College was affiliated to
Calcutta University and in 1888 its affiliation was shifted to the University of
Allahabad. Although, it was in 1898 when Sir Syed Ahmad Khan breathed his last,
but in 1920, MAO College finally emerged as university, called the Aligarh Muslim
University, by an Act of Parliament, becoming tenth University of the Indian
subcontinent.
In the beginning, the University commenced its functioning with only 15

departments of studies and merely 261 students. In present, the Aligarh Muslim
University has a wide campus put on 467.6 hectares at Aligarh city of Uttar Pradesh
in India. Aligarh Muslim University is one of its kind which offers admittance from
nursery school to Post Doctoral Research. The students from all corners of the India
and the world as well get benefited with a wide variety of courses in various domains
of education. Among top 20 Research Universities in India, Aligarh Muslim
University occupies the 8th rank which in itself is quite a remarkable achievement,
hence maintaining the national and international reputation. As the information
obtained from the Competent Authority on September 2016, the university has more
than 30,000 students enrolled in different courses, with 1750 faculty members and
some 7000 non-teaching staff. “The university is having 13 faculties consisting of 98
academic departments, 5 institutions, and 13 centers.” To provide a good environment
for learning with best possible facilities, University provides residential facility to
both the faculty members as well as students within the campus. There are almost 19
Halls of residence comprising of more than 75 hostels for both boys and girls.
81
4.7.1 Faculties in Aligarh Muslim University
In 1944 the faculty system was introduced in Aligarh Muslim University. At

present, the University is comprised of 13 faculties specified as:
1. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences,

2. Faculty of Arts,
3. Faculty of Commerce,
4. Faculty of Engineering and Technology,
5. Faculty of International Studies,
6. Faculty of Law,
7. Faculty of Life Sciences,
8. Faculty of Management,
9. Faculty of Medicine,
10. Faculty of Sciences,
11. Faculty of Social Sciences,
12. Faculty of Theology, and
13. Faculty of Unani Medicine.
4.8 Faculty of Social Sciences
The Social Sciences faculty at AMU came into existence when Faculty of Arts
was separated in 1969. Most of the departments under the faculty of social sciences
have nationally and internationally put on their importance in terms of high standard
of teaching and research. Department of History is considered as one among those
disciplines that have accorded the highest status of excellence in research and
learning, it can be witnessed from the fact that the department has maintained the
status of Centre of Advanced Study and Research, followed by the Department of
Library and Information Science and Mass Communication who have been assisted
with foremost research projects financially assisted by Department of Science and
Technology, Govt. of India. As on July, 2018, the Faculty of Social Sciences offers 08
undergraduate and 20 postgraduate programs and also several Diploma and Certificate
courses. The teaching faculty comprises of almost 179 highly qualified and research
oriented teachers who have contributed a number of publications both in national and
international journals. Above and beyond all the achievements by different
82
departments, the faculty in itself in its credit has an achievement of establishing

“Social Science Cyber Library” (ISO 9001:2008 certified) designed and developed by
Prof. Shabahat Husain in 2013, which is the first of its kind in the world. The
Cyberlibrary has put a landmark in the history of Academia and is being visited by
more than 156 countries all over the globe. Cyberlibrary brings open access resources
pertaining to the field of Social Sciences, all together on a single platform and
provides access to them whether it is in the form of “e-books, e-journals, video
lectures, subject gateways, databases, useful websites etc.” The easy access to the
ocean of all accessible e-resources catches the eye of the researchers towards the open
world of knowledge. This achievement adds to the prestige of Aligarh Muslim
University in general and that of the faculty of Social Sciences in particular.
4.8.1 Departments in the Faculty of Social Sciences
The Faculty of Social Sciences, A.M.U. Aligarh is presently comprised of

eleven departments namely: “Economics, Education, History, Islamic Studies,
Library and Information Science, Mass Communication, Psychology, Physical
Education, Political Science, Sociology, and Social Work.” In addition to this, a
proposal for developing the Anthropology and Population Studies departments has
been forwarded to University Grants Commission (UGC).
4.8.1.1 Department of Economics
The genesis of the Economics department goes back to 1920s. The department
creates a center of attention to the leading count of students not only from India but
also outside the country, as it provides an opportunity for the students to get admitted
in different courses offered from bachelors to Ph.D.
The teaching programs focus on proper unification of excellence and

significance. The department works on many thrust areas as “Development
Economics, International Trade, Agriculture Economics, Public Finance,
Environment Economics, Monetary Economics, Industrial Development and
Population Studies etc.” Since its inception in the 1920s, the department has awarded
near about 100 M.Phil and120 Ph.D. degrees. And is currently having 16 faculty
members and about 78 Research Scholars. The department has successfully
completed 3 research projects and 2 are going on under different faculty members.
83
4.8.1.2 Department of Education
In the year 1923, the Department of Education of Aligarh Muslim University

was established. The department is considered among the premier institutions of
Teacher Education in India. Being one of the oldest departments of the University it
has been producing teachers from more than 90 years, who are competent and
committed to their profession. The department has shown a good growth rate of the
most competent products, which not only shows their competencies in the country but
are serving in different countries of the world also.
The department is currently running B.ED, M.ED, M.Phil, & Ph.D. Programs.
At present, the department is having 21 well trained and high-quality educated faculty
members. The Department provides excellent infrastructure facilities its departmental
Library is having a collection of around sixteen thousand books and can claim to be
one of the biggest reference libraries in education. There are four laboratories which
include: Science Lab, Home Science Lab, Computer Lab, and Technology and
Psychology Lab.
4.8.1.3 Department of History
Among all the other departments, the Department of History has got the status
of being the successor to the institution developed by the founder, Sir Syed Ahmad
Khan. It was teaching of the history subject which in the M.A.O. College was paid
careful attention. In the history department of MAO College Sardar K.M. Panikkar,
were appointed as Professor even when college was converted to Aligarh Muslim
University.
In the year 1968 it was Mammoth achievement for the Department as it was
promoted as a “Centre of Advanced Study in History by the University Grants
Commission (UGC) under its Special Assistance Programme (SAP).” Presently the
department is having 39 faculty members and more than 200 research scholars
including M.Phil students working on different research areas which are prolific for
the nation and for the university as well.
84
4.8.1.4 Department of Islamic Studies
During 1950 Islamic study was established in Department of Arabic’s at

Aligarh Muslim University. Later in 1951, the teachings of Islamic Studies command
in BA and MA. Slowly and gradually the base for the development of separate
department of Islamic studies seemed to be fulfilled in the month of March,1954 by
establishment of Institute of Islamic Studies having focus on supporting the research
on “(a) Islamic Culture and Civilization (b) Social, Political, Economic and Cultural
trends in the countries of West Asia and North Africa and (c) Modern Arabic, Persian
and Turkish (Language and Literature) which later in 1968-69 simultaneously began
to function as the department of Islamic studies.” During the period of 1971, good
counts of researchers were awarded with M.Phil /Ph.D. Degrees. Presently the
department is having 16 faculty members and 28 research scholars including M.Phil
students. The department is excelling day by day both in teaching as well as in
research activities, which can be witnessed from the publication of research articles
both by teachers and by scholars of the department.
4.8.1.5 Department of Library and Information Science
In 1950-51 Late Prof. S. Bashiruddin the then University Librarian laid the
foundation of department by starting a 'Certificate Course in Library Science.’ Later
in 1958-59, after witnessing the success of certificate course, a ‘Bachelor Course of
Library Science' (B. Lib. Sc) was introduced for the first time as a bachelors degree
course in the country. After successful running of bachelor’s course, Certificate
course was withdrawn from the curriculum in the year 1968-1969. And later, 'Master
of Library Science' (M. Lib. Sc.) was introduced in the year 1970-1971, keeping the
importance of the subject into consideration, the department also introduced Library
Science as a subsidiary subject at B.A. level in the Faculties of Arts and Social
Sciences in 1986-87. After the success of these courses, further M.Phil /PhD
programmes were also started. The department has many achievements on its cards
one of which is to have the first fully automated library in the University, developed
by Prof. Shabahat Husain.
In the year 2014, the University Grants Commission (UGC) approved the
proposal of Prof. Shabahat Husain for the award of SAP (DRS-I) to the Department
for 05 years on the theme ‘Knowledge Management in Libraries’. The Research
85
project accorded by the UGC added the quality of excellence to the department. As
far as the other research projects are concerned, the department has completed five
main Research Projects and three Minor Research Projects by the faculty members &
research scholars till date.
4.8.1.6 Department of Mass Communication
The Department of Mass Communication is considered one among the

premier departments of the country engaged in imparting mass communication
theories and skills and also in conducting the media research of consequence in its
Ph.D. program.
The Department is a well equipped with the state-of-the-art production

facility, and have also got apostrophe of being one of the best departments for the
production of news and current affairs programs. The department is facilitated with
the highly sophisticated labs with a seminar library having a rich collection of over
1700 books; the departmental library is also subscribed to 10 important national and
international journals of academic and research significance. The faculty members are
highly qualified and experienced, and the department has distinguished itself by
winning several national awards in the categories of student’s video films. Most of its
students are doing exceptionally well in almost all the reputed media houses of the
country.
4.8.1.7 Department of Psychology
The Department of Psychology of the AMU is one of the earliest departments

in the subcontinent. Earlier it was merged with the Department of Philosophy and
later in 1964 it was separated as an individual discipline. The department took on
board the contemporary information by which a number of major areas came into
view. In the course, “areas of Experimental Psychology, Personality and Social
Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Educational Psychology, Industrial Psychology,
and Humanistic Psychology” came up to the front.
The department has carried out study in different areas such as “Applied
Personality and Social Psychology, Industrial and Organizational Psychology,
Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology.” Moreover, the department has reached
its heights also in terms of research publications; both the teachers and research
86
scholars of the Department and has completed 8 research projects as well. Presently
the department is having 14 well qualified and more competent faculty members and
has the strength of about 107 research scholars including M.Phil students. Till date, as
on records the department has awarded a total number of 200 Ph.D. and 100 M.Phil
Degrees.
4.8.1.8 Department of Physical Education
The Department emerged in 1988 and the course of physical education was
introduced in the 1990-91. The Master’s and doctorate courses were in progress
during the years 1994-95 and 1999-2000 respectively and currently over 100 bonafide
students are admitted for different courses.
Vested with latest instrument and facilities provided to the students the
department has 9 faculty members pursuing the research activities, as a result of
which it has a growing research program within the fields of “sports biomechanics,
exercise physiology, motor skills & sports psychology, physical activity and health,
sports management and sports sociology.”
Department has completed several major as well as minor projects accorded
by University Grants Commission and still single UGC-SAP (DRS-I) Programme is
in progress.
4.8.1.9 Department of Political Science
In the year 1922, the Department of History and Politics was established. Later
in 1948, it became separate and independent Department. Presently it is having
strength of 23 faculty members and 122 research scholars. The department is
currently running bachelors and masters programme in Political Science. In addition
to this, the department is also offering “two specialized Master's Programmes - M.A.
in Public Administration and M.A. in Human Rights.” The department is one of its
kinds in research as well as teachings activities. The department since 1967 is
publishing “Indian Journal of Politics, [ISSN: 0303 - 9957] indexed in the Current
Contents and also abstracted in the International Political Science Abstracts (Paris).”
87
4.8.1.10 Department of Sociology
The Department of Sociology came into emergence in the year 1967 with
undergraduate teaching program. Later in 1970, the Postgraduate programme along
with research facilities was initiated in the department. In 1986 Sociology was
introduced at the undergraduate level in the Women's College. Later in 1994-1995 the
department of sociology introduced a 2 year Master of Social Work (MSW) course,
by doing so the department became Department of Sociology and Social Work.
However, from January 2013, both the disciplines were separated giving birth to the
individual Departments one Sociology and other Department of Social Work in the
Faculty of Social Sciences. At present the Department offers Under Graduate (Honors
as well as Subsidiary Courses), Post Graduate, M. Phil. and Ph. D. Courses to the
Students from all over the country and from abroad as well.
Faculty members of the department have been completed several research

projects in different capacities and some are still going which include the DRS-I
Programme awarded by University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2011. The quality
of the teaching and research of the department can be witnessed from the fact as a
large number of Sociology students of this department are having job in well reputed
universities and associations in India as well as in abroad. The department comprises
of 10 faculty members and 50 research scholars.
4.8.1.11 Department of Social Work
The department of Social Work of Aligarh Muslim University is newly

established department and was introduced in the year 2013. Although the Master's
program in Social Work (M.S.W.) was introduced way back in the year 1994-95 in
the Department of Sociology followed by the Bachelor's course which was started
from the session 2012-2013. It was because of the great and growing importance of
the subject, that the social work was carved out of the department of sociology in the
year 2013. Presently the department is offering the BSW, MSW, and Doctoral
program in social work. The good mix of students, together with a competent and
committed faculty supplemented by practitioners in the field, has given rise to lively
exchanges of experiences in the seminar room. The synergy generated has made the
learning experience a meaningful and exciting one. The department has 7 faculty
members well recognized in their field.
88
References:
Aligarh Muslim University. (2012). Pamphlet. Aligarh: AMU Publication Division
Aligarh Muslim University. (2017). History. Retrieved January 18, 2016 from
https://www.amu.ac.in/amuhistory.jsp
Aligarh Muslim University. (2016). Faculty of Social Sciences. Retrieved July 21,
2016 from https://www.amu.ac.in/deansoffaculty.jsp?did=8008&lid=00
Aligarh Muslim University. (2016).Department of Economics. Retrieved July 21,

2016 from https://www.amu.ac.in/departmentpage.jsp?did=75
Aligarh Muslim University. (2016). Department of Education. Retrieved July 21,

2016 from https://www.amu.ac.in/departmentpage.jsp?did=76
Aligarh Muslim University. (2016). Department of History. Retrieved July 23, 2016
from https://www.amu.ac.in/departmentpage.jsp?did=77
Aligarh Muslim University. (2016). Department of Islamic Studies. Retrieved July

22, 2016 from https://www.amu.ac.in/departmentpage.jsp?did=78
Aligarh Muslim University. (2017). Department of Library and Information Science.

Retrieved November 16, 2017 from
https://www.amu.ac.in/departmentpage.jsp?did=80
Aligarh Muslim University. (2017). Department of Mass Communication. Retrieved

November 16, 2017 from https://www.amu.ac.in/departmentpage.jsp?did=79
Aligarh Muslim University. (2017). Department of Psychology. Retrieved November

Aligarh Muslim University. (2017). Department of Physical Education. Retrieved

Aligarh Muslim University. (2017). Department of Political Science. Retrieved

Aligarh Muslim University. (2017). Department of Sociology. Retrieved November

Aligarh Muslim University. (2017). Department of Social Work. Retrieved

89
Arti. (2014). Development of Education as a discipline- An analytical study. (Doctoral

thesis, The University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India). Retrieved June 20, 2016
from http://hdl.handle.net/10603/70652
Beard, C. A. (1935). The nature of the social sciences in relation to objectives of
instruction (p.230). New York: C. Scribner's Sons.
Benson, T. (n.d.). Importance of History in our Life. Retrieved April 20, 2017, from
https://iaecconsultants.wordpress.com/importance-of-History-in-our-life/
Blau, P. M. (1969). Sociological Analysis: Current Trends and Personal
Practice. Sociological Inquiry, 39, 2, 119-130.
Carter, D. (1992). George Santayana. New York: Chelsea House Publishers.
Copleston, F. C. (1999). A history of philosophy. Tunbridge Wells: Burns & Oates.
Darity, W. A. (2006). International Encyclopedia of Social Science. Detroit, Mich:
Thomson.
Duverger, M. (1964). Introduction to the social sciences: With special reference to
their methods. London: G. Allen & Unwin.
Seligman, E.S.R.A. (1934). An Encyclopedia of Social Sciences. (p.330). New York:
Macmillan.
Economics (1996). In The New Encyclopedia Britannica (15th Ed.)(Vol. 27, pp. 320-
321). Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica Inc.
Economics help. (2017). “Economics.” Retrieved October 17, 2017 from
http://econ.economicshelp.org/2008/06/importance-of-Economics.html
Estabrook, L.S. (2009). In Bates. M. J. & Maack, M.N. (Eds). Encyclopedia of
Library and Information Sciences. (3rd ed.). London, Newyork: CRC Press.
Eulau, H. (1972). Political Science. In Hoselitz, B. F., & Blau, P. M. (Eds), A reader's
guide to the social sciences. (2nd ed., pp. 129-235). New York: Free Press.
Fenton, M. (Ebc). (2008). The Scope and Contribution of Social Sciences. Natural
Resource Managment, (January), 21.
Geography (1913), In Webster's 1913 Dictionary. Retrieved January 18, 2017 from
http://www.webster-dictionary.org/definition/Geography
Geography (1996), In The New Encyclopedia Britannica (15th Ed.)(Vol. 19, pp. 877-
886). Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica Inc.
Halayya, M. (1961). Social Sciences. Asia Pub. House: London; Bombay printed.
Hoerl, C. (2017). Social Science. Retrieved January 22, 2016, from
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/Philosophy/undergraduate/modules/ph330/
90
Hoselitz, B. F., & Blau, P. M. (1972). A reader's guide to the social sciences. New
York: The Free Press.
Hunt, E. F., & Colander, D. C. (2017). Social science: An introduction to the study of
society. New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
Issa, A. O. (2009). Fundamentals of Library and Information Science. (Vol. 4, p.
101). Nigeria: Ilorin.
Jaspers, K. (1969). Philosophy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Joad, C. E. M. (1975). Philosophy. London: English Universities Press.
Kelly, G.M. (1972). Anthropology. In Hoselitz, B. F., & Blau, P. M. (Eds), A reader's
guide to the social sciences. (2nd ed., pp. 41-88). New York: Free Press.
Khullar, D.R. (2000). India - A comprehensive Geography. (p. 82), New Delhi.
McDonald, L. (2008). The early origins of the Social Sciences. Montreal: McGill-
Queen's University Press.
Morris, C. G. (1996). Pshychology. London: Prentice Hall.
Naftalin, A. (1952). Social science in general education. Chicago: National Society
for the Study of Education.
OCadiz, M. (2017).Social Science. Retrieved January 22, 2016, from
http://classroom.synonym.com/major-goals-objectives-social-studies-Education-
5436.html
Ogburn, W. F., & Nimkoff, M. F. (1968). A handbook of sociology. London:
Routledge and Kegan Poul.
Pidwirny, M. (2006). Introduction to Geography (2nd ed). Fundamentals of Physical
Geography. Retrieved February 2, 2017, from.
http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/1a.html
Philosophy, (2017). In English Oxford Living Dictionary. Retrieved September 16,
2017, from https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/philosophy
Psychology, (1996). In The New Encyclopedia Britannica (15th Ed.)(Vol. 27, pp. 616
-617). Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica Inc.
Reitman, W.R. (1972). Psychology. In Hoselitz, B. F., & Blau, P. M. (Eds), A
reader's guide to the social sciences. (2nd ed., pp. 91-123). New York: Free
Press.
Savindra, S. (2008). Physical Geography. Allahabad: Prayag Pustak Bhawan.
Silverman, R. E. (1985). Psychology. (5th ed.,). Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice-Hall.
91
Sirswal, D.R. (2014). In Elements of Philosophy. Retrieved November 2, 2015, from

https://philgcg11chd.wordpress.com/2014/08/21/nature-of-philosophy/
Social Sciences. (2015, October 7). In New World Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 9,
2016, from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Social_Sciences
society. (n.d.). In Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition.
Retrieved January 18, 2017 from http://www.dictionary.com/browse/society
Vidyarthi, K. (2015). Education. Retrieved on January 15, 2015 from
https://listsurge.com/top-15-reasons-Education-important/
92

Chapter - 4 An Introduction To Social Sciences 4.1 Social Sciences: An Overview

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chapter - 4 An Introduction To Social Sciences 4.1 Social Sciences: An Overview

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chapter 4 An Introduction to Social Sciences

An Introduction to Social Sciences

4.1 Social Sciences: An Overview

In present times, Social Sciences may be looked upon as a discipline wherein

In so far as the origin of the field of Social Sciences is concerned, no

4.2 The Concept of Social Sciences

As of the Webster’s third international dictionary, Social Science is “the

n.d.).3 In addition to it, according to Encyclopedia Britannica, the Social Sciences

According to Charles A. Beard, “a Social Science is a body of knowledge and

4.4 Historical Development of Social Sciences

The historical evolution of Social Science is of great interest because of the

4.4.1. The Primitive confusion between Science and Philosophy

4.4.1.1 General characteristics of the period

In order to study the principles of an ideal organization, it is important to study

4.4.1.2 The Main Stages

the quasi-permanent opposition that exhibits between the temperaments of the

4.4.1. The Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries: Foundation of an Autonomous

4.4.2. The Twentieth-Century expansion of Social Science

4.4.3.1. The striving for the unity of Social Science

The 20th-century occurrence was not responsible for growth of particular

4.4.3.2. The contemporary multiplication of specialist disciplines

between social phenomena as deeper they go they should preserve an awareness of

The training of ‘specialists in generalities’ could be one of the methods

4.4.3. Social Sciences in the Twenty-First Century

Besides Economics and Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology are also

4.5 Social Sciences in Modern Day Society

The aim of Social Sciences is same as of the other Sciences to gather

In present scenario there is an increase in the number of courses offered by

4.6 Social Sciences: Characteristics and Disciplines

The study of the Education as a discipline provides insight to develop

Geography as a subject is a research on natural environment, its impact on

According to Webster’s dictionary Geography is defined as “The Science which treats

To the extent that the historical development of Geography as a subject is

History is what has previously happened. As far as subject matter of the

4.6.6 Library and Information Science

classification of documented knowledge). The two critical studies of Carnegie

Library and Information Science is an interdisciplinary domain associated

Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problem. Instead of

4.6.8 Political Science

Political Science like other disciplines of Social Sciences is also having a

Being one of the prominent subjects of Social Science, Political Science

4.7 Aligarh Muslim University: A Historical Perspective

In the beginning, the University commenced its functioning with only 15

4.7.1 Faculties in Aligarh Muslim University

In 1944 the faculty system was introduced in Aligarh Muslim University. At

1. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences,

4.8 Faculty of Social Sciences

departments, the faculty in itself in its credit has an achievement of establishing

4.8.1 Departments in the Faculty of Social Sciences

The Faculty of Social Sciences, A.M.U. Aligarh is presently comprised of

4.8.1.1 Department of Economics

The teaching programs focus on proper unification of excellence and

4.8.1.2 Department of Education

In the year 1923, the Department of Education of Aligarh Muslim University

4.8.1.3 Department of History

4.8.1.4 Department of Islamic Studies

During 1950 Islamic study was established in Department of Arabic’s at

4.8.1.5 Department of Library and Information Science

4.8.1.6 Department of Mass Communication

The Department of Mass Communication is considered one among the

The Department is a well equipped with the state-of-the-art production

4.8.1.7 Department of Psychology