Basic Concepts Of Sociology

BASIC CONCEPTS OF SOCIOLOGY A. Definition of Sociology Sociology is a science that discusses various aspects of society and its influence on human life. The term sociology was first used by Auguste Comte and then expanded into a scientific discipline by Émile Durkheim. The development of sociology as a science is divided into four stages, namely the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the period of sociology as a science of society using scientific methods from other sciences (18th century AD), and the period of sociology as a science with independent scientific methods (19th century AD). Sociology has a clear object of study and can be investigated through scientific methods and can be arranged into a reasonable and interconnected system. The main objects of study in sociology are the structure of society, social elements, socialization and social change. The branches of sociology are a combination of the science of social phenomena that occur in society with other sciences. Here are some definitions of sociology based on the opinions of experts: 1. Pitirim Sorokin According to Pitirim Sorokin, there is an opinion that sociology is a science that will study: a. Relationships and also the influence of reciprocal relationships that exist between various social phenomena. b. In this case, examples are economic phenomena, religious phenomena, family phenomena to moral phenomena. c. Relationships and also the influence of a form of reciprocity that exists between social phenomena and non-social phenomena. In this case, in the form of geographical and biological phenomena. General characteristics and all forms of other types of social phenomena. Sociology in this case is a form of science that discusses various forms of aspects that exist in society to their influence on a form of life that is owned by human needs. The term in this case sociology will first be pronounced by Auguste Comte which will eventually be expanded to become a scientific discipline that will be mentioned by Emile Durkheim. 2. Max Weber According to Max Weber (1864 - 1920), Sociology is a science that seeks to understand by interpreting social actions. Social actions that are the main topic of sociology according to Max Weber are actions that are oriented towards the behavior of others. For example, when we sing in the bathroom for ourselves is not a social act. It is different if we sing in a cafe or even on stage. This can be said to be a social act 3. August Comte Sociology according to Auguste Comte is a positive study of the basic laws of various social phenomena which are divided into static sociology and dynamic sociology. B. History of the Development of Sociology 1. Early Development The journey of sociology began with Ancient Greek thinkers such as Plato and Aristotle who had the assumption that a society would only be like that. Society will experience various forms of development and decline which no one can prevent. 2. Age of Enlightenment This century began with the discovery of the development of science in society. Then in this case there is a view of social change where that view must be included in a scientific characteristic. 3. Century of Revolution Then, entering the era of revolution which occurred in the 18th century, the change became revolutionary because in a structure of society where the old could quickly be replaced by a structure where the new. This was then marked by the emergence of the American Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, and also the French Revolution. C. Scope of Sociology a. Topics of Sociology 1. Social facts Social facts are ways of acting, thinking, and feeling that are outside the individual and have the power to force and control the individual. For example, at school, a student is required to arrive on time, wear a uniform, and be respectful to the teacher. These obligations are stated in a rule and have certain sanctions if violated. From this example, it can be seen that there are ways of acting, thinking, and feeling that are outside the individual (school), which are coercive and control the individual (student). 2. Social action Social action is an action that is carried out by considering the behavior of others. For example, planting flowers for personal pleasure is not a social act, but planting flowers to enter in a competition so as to get other people's attention is a social act. 3. Sociological imagination Sociological imagination is needed to be able to understand what happens in society and in humans. According to Wright Mills, with sociological imagination, we are able to understand the history of society, personal life history, and the relationship between the two. 4. Sociological reality A sociologist must be able to uncover various veils and reveal each strand of the veil into an unexpected reality. The requirement is that the sociologist must follow scientific rules and carry out scientific and objective proof by controlling personal prejudices and observing the veil carefully and avoiding normative judgments. b. The Nature of Sociology 1. Sociology is a social science 2. Sociology is not a normative discipline but rather a categorical one 3. Sociology is a pure science 4. Sociology is an abstract and not concrete science 5. Sociology aims to produce general understandings and patterns 6. Sociology is an empirical and rational science 7. Sociology is a general science, not a specific science c. Main characteristics of sociology 1. Empirical in nature because it is based on observations of social reality and the results are not speculative 2. Theoretical in nature, meaning that it always tries to draw conclusions from the results of observations to produce knowledge 3. Cumulative in nature, meaning that theories in sociology are formed on the basis of existing theories, improved, expanded, and deepened 4. Non-ethical in nature, meaning that it does not question the good and bad of the facts analytically and as they are