Lesson

Social Science Disciplines

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Aside from the spread of the infectious disease and the struggle to contain it,
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic has created far-reaching
implications, including economic, social, and cultural consequences. The said
disease is anticipated to automatically affect the Philippine economy and the global
economy as well, since deceleration or slowdown in economic activities, which is an
infection control practice, is inevitably needed in preventing and reducing the
transmission of the disease from one person to another. Decrease in tourist arrivals
because of travel restrictions, sharp decline in remittances, increase in business
closures, and rise in the unemployment rate are some of the expected economic
impacts of the pandemic.

Apart from the economic sectors, this infectious disease has also affected the
different social institutions, such as education and family. Widespread closures of
educational institutions and utilization of distance education instead of face-to-face
learning are a few implications of the pandemic in the educational system. Also,
people, especially women and children, have become more vulnerable to the
different types of domestic and sexual violence because of community quarantine,
which is sad, thinking that it should be safer for them to stay at home with their
family. According to the Philippine National Police's - Women and Children
Protection Center (PNP-WCPC), 602 cases of sexual assault, or an average of eight
incidents a day, were recorded from March 17, 2020 to May 23, 2020. These were
the times when Luzon and other parts of the Philippines were under enhanced
community quarantine because of the pandemic. Religion is another social
institution that is impacted by the pandemic. Sunday schools or church schools
were closed, worship services of various religious institutions were cancelled, and
even pilgrimages, or visitations to the places that are considered holy or special,
were also cancelled.

Because of these consequences brought by the Coronavirus Disease 2019

(COVID-19) Pandemic, our world and our everyday lives will never go back to
normal for a long period of time. Whether we like it or not, we must adapt the
routines and restrictions of the “new normal,” such as wearing face masks,
practicing social distancing, and changing our lifestyles, so that we can prevent the
spread of the infectious disease and ensure not just our own safety, but the safety
of all. Fortunately, various disciplines of Social Sciences can help us adjust to the
“new normal.” These disciplines can help in the battle against the pandemic by
investigating the different social forces related to the development and transmission
of this infectious disease. Moreover, Social Science disciplines can produce
knowledge that can be employed in helping individuals, families, and communities
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on how to better cope with the implications of the pandemic. Now, the question is:
What are the different disciplines under the Social Sciences?

DISCIPLINES OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES

Social Sciences explore the different factors, such as cultural, demographic,

economic, geographical, historical, linguistic, political, psychological, and social
factors, that mold the actions of the people and their societal implications. These
forces are being represented by the various disciplines within the Social Sciences,
which emerged because of these forces themselves. Social Science disciplines,
although independent and different from one another, share the same goal and that
is to define the essence of being a human.

These disciplines allow us to analyze the human behavior from a variety of

perspectives, to deeply understand the controversial issues and complications
surrounding our society, and, most significantly, to empower ourselves as
democratic citizens of the fast-changing world. Social Sciences mainly include the
following disciplines: Anthropology, Demography, Economics, Geography, History,
Linguistics, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology.

• Anthropology - It is s etymologically defined as “the study of humanity” that

originated from the Greek word “anthrōpos,” word for “human being,” and
the suffix “-logy,” which means “the study or the science of”. This discipline
seeks to comprehend the origins or roots of human beings, the adaptations,
either cultural or biological, that allow people to go well with their
environments, and the variations in cultural traditions and beliefs about life
among individuals or groups of individuals. It is a mixture of Social Sciences
and Natural Sciences, specifically Biology, for it considers both cultural and
biological perspectives in dealing with the human nature. Its central focus is
the concept of culture since culture molds the nature of human beings and
is conditioned by both social and natural environments. This broad field of
study analyzes culture by exploring the people’s systems of communication,
patterns of behaviors, principles or values, tools or ornaments, and even the
manners of grouping themselves. It investigates the changes in the traditions
of various cultural groups that occurred throughout the years.

Related News: New species of ancient human discovered in the Philippines

(https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/04/new-species ancient-
human-discovered-luzon-philippines-homo-luzonensis/)

• Demography - It is etymologically characterized as "writings about

population” which was derived from two ancient Greek words “demos,”
meaning "the people," and “graphia,” meaning "writing about or recoding
something". It analyses the different characteristics of the human
population, such as the size, the density, the territorial dispersion or spatial
distribution, and the structure or composition, and the various factors that
bring about changes within its structure, namely fertility or natality, aging,

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 mortality, migration or spatial movement (emigration and immigration), and
social mobility or change in social status (e.g., horizontal, vertical), through
statistical models to determine how they cause changes in the society over a
specific period of time. Its primary sources of data and information are
population and housing censuses, household sample surveys, and
administrative records, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and
death certificates.

Related News: PH population growth slows, 2020 estimate 1M less than

expected (https://www.rappler.com/nation/248067-philippine-
populationgrowth-slows-2020)

• Economics - It is etymologically described as “household management”

which was originated from the Greek word “oikonomia”. This subject of
interest deals with the matters or problems related to the optimal allocation
of limited resources, which have alternative uses (decision-making). In order
to satisfy the infinite needs and desires of the people or to maximize the
utilities or the pleasures that the consumers will obtain from goods, services,
or experiences. It seeks to comprehend the different types of economic
system (e.g., traditional, command), the various human actions or behaviors
with regard to the production, distribution, exchange, and consumption of
goods and services, and the role of the market and the government in these
economic activities, especially in the regulation of the outputs. This branch
of knowledge characterizes different social behaviors, such as collecting of
raw materials and manufacturing of products, using mathematical equations
and quantitative analyses. Its primary goal is to develop better economic
policies in order to mitigate the issues about the allocation of scarce
resources or the distribution of wealth and to maximize the benefits that the
people will get from consuming goods and services.

Related News: Philippine economy to shrink 2% to 3.4% in 2020

(https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/government-economy/philippine economy-
to-shrink-2-to-34-in-2020)

• Geography - It is etymologically defined as “description of the earth's

surface” which was derived from two Greek words “geo,” which means
“earth,” and “graphia,” which means “recoding something or writing about”.
It investigates the distribution and location of the different natural or
physical features of the earth, which include the landscapes or topographies,
the climatic conditions, the living things (floras and faunas), and even the
characteristics of the inhabited portions, and the relationships, as well as
the interactions, between the people and their surroundings. It is the field of
study that serves as the bridge between the Social Sciences and the Natural
Sciences, particularly the Earth Sciences, as it examines the people and their
environments and analyzes the geographical relationships between all
cultural and physical phenomena in the world. It asserts that the
environments or the geographical locations of the people ultimately

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 determine the human actions or behaviors that will be manifested within the
community and the kinds of society that will be established or developed
over a long period of time.

Related News: Namria discovers 400 to 500 new islands in PHL archipelago
(https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/555068/namria discovers-
400-to-500-new-islands-in-phl-archipelago/story/)

• History - It is etymologically characterized as “knowledge acquired by

inquiry or investigation” which was emanated from the Greek word
“historía,” which means “inquiry” or “knowledge from inquiry or
investigation”. This area of study reconstructs various recorded human
events and natural phenomena and explains the different human thoughts
and actions in the past and the changes that these had experienced through
the analysis of primary (e.g., diaries, video footages, official records) and
secondary (e.g., articles, documentaries, encyclopedias) sources of
information. It involves the systematic detection, collection, organization,
and presentation of substantial evidences or information regarding several
past events or phenomena; this subject of interest points out that the past
events, such as the rise and fall of the civilizations and the dawn of
revolutions, are still significant factors affecting the present-day as these
events continue to shape the way people act, behave, or decide in the
present.

Related News: Duterte signs law making April 27 ‘Lapu-Lapu Day’

(https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/03/18/duterte-signs-law-makingapril-27-
lapu-lapu-day)

• Linguistics - It is a branch of knowledge that is etymologically described as

“the science of languages” which came from the Latin word “lingua,” meaning
"language or tongue,” and the suffix “-ics,” which means “the science or the
study of”. It is the scientific study of various human or natural languages,
which are products of humanity’s cultural and biological heritages, and their
structures, such as sounds, words, phrases, and sentences. It analyzes the
nature of different human languages by closely examining their formal
properties or features, which include displacement (imagination),
arbitrariness (flexibility), productivity (creativity), discreetness (uniqueness),
dualism (double articulation), and cultural transmission (acquisition). This
discipline investigates the origins of various natural languages, language
acquisition procedures, and the changes that have occurred in different
human languages over a period of time, including their modern modifications
or variations. Its main focus is the concept of language, since it is a universal
and identifiable feature of human capacity and behaviour. It plays a vital role
in both understanding and culture of a certain society and molds the people
living in it. Its principal goals are to create language theories by analyzing
the nature of several human languages and to employ these theories in order
to describe all natural languages.

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 Related News: Team launches online rescue of dying PH languages
(https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/356816/team-launches-online-rescue-of dying-ph-
languages/)

• Political Science - It is etymologically defined as “the science of city-state”

which was originated from Greek word “polis,” meaning “city-state,” and the
Latin word “scire,” meaning “to know”. This subject of interest is the
systematic analysis of various political institutions and processes, sources
and limits of political power and its manifestations, types of legitimate
authority or rule, and systems of government. It examines the different
political thoughts or philosophies (e.g., patriotism, neutralism) and political
ideologies (e.g., democracy, fascism) as well as the impacts of these concepts
on the political activities or behaviors (e.g., supporting or opposing a
particular candidate for public office) of the people or groups of people by
utilizing numerous empirical and scientific methods of analysis. This branch
of knowledge investigates the various social structures or patterned social
arrangements, such as public policies and social laws that maintain peace
and order within a certain society and address the needs of the people living
in it. It considers politics or the political realm as the domain that captures
human lives and as a competition for control of and access to wealth or
resources among contending interest groups.

Related News: House pursues shift to federal government

(https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/01/05/1982149/housepursues-
shift-federal-government)

• Psychology - It is etymologically characterized as “the study of the mind”

which was derived from the Greek word “psyche,” which means “soul or
mind” and the suffix “-logy,” which means “the study or the science of”. It is
the scientific investigation of different human behaviors, physical structures
(e.g., nervous system, endocrine system), mental states (conscious and
unconscious), cognitive processes (e.g., critical thinking, problem-solving),
and on how these all relate to the surroundings of the people. This field of
study analyzes the various internal (e.g., personality traits) and external
(e.g., environmental or situational features) factors that shape humans and
affect their behaviors or reactions, such as the blink of an eye, the rise in
blood pressure, or the disorderly violence that frequently explodes in a large
group of people, using systematic and objective procedures of investigation
and observation. It insists that whatever is going on within the psyche or the
human mind, such as sensation, pleasure, phobia, doubt, victory, or conflict,
molds the way a person sees his/her society and, therefore, affects his/her
relationship or connection with other people and the environment.
Its main goals are to figure out how people living in a particular society act
and why these people behave in a certain manner, to make predictions
regarding how people think and act, and to create positive and permanent

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 changes in people's lives, such as treating different mental health conditions
and improving the well-being of the people.
Related News: More Pinoys experiencing mental health issues as a result of
lockdowns, says NCMH
(https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/05/28/morepinoys-experiencing-mental-
health-issues-as-a-result-of-lockdowns-says ncmh/)

Sociology - It is etymologically described as “the study of society” which was

derived from the Latin word “socius,” which means "companion," and the suffix “-
logy,” which means “the science or the study of”. This area of study is the
systematic analysis of the various developments, systems, structures, and
functions of human society. It examines how individuals behave and interact
with each other as members of a certain social or cultural group and how these
people work as a whole in the larger society through the sociological perspective,
which is an effective approach in discovering several repetitive and general
patterns of human behaviour and interaction. This subject of interest, which is a
sister discipline of anthropology, investigates the different social influences that
affect general patterns of human behavior and interaction, such as historical
events (e.g., revolutions, reforms, wars), social institutions (e.g., family,
education, religion), socially derived cultural norms (e.g., laws, folkways, taboos),
collective values, socially shared beliefs and practices, and social problems (e.g.,
poverty, gender discrimination, ecological imbalance), and hypothesizes
regarding the processes wherein the individuals are socialized in a particular
society in which they are living. It mainly deals with the concept of social
interaction since social interaction is the fundamental element of all
relationships and groups that comprise every human society. Its goal is to
recognize the various characteristics of the people living in a specific society,
such as their genders, nationalities, or age groups, in order to apprehend the
distinct nature of human relations.

Related News: Sociologist’s research on Filipino leader reveals insights into

populist politics (https://news.uchicago.edu/story/sociologists-research filipino-
leader-reveals-insights-populist-politics)

Lesson
Historical Background of
4 Social Science Disciplines
The emergence of Social Science traces its root from the Age of
Enlightenment (17th- 19th century). The Age of Enlightenment, also known as the
“Age of Reason”, is a period in Western history when philosophers especially in
Britain and France, tried to use reason to understand and improve society,
government and humanity (Perry, 1989, p. 407). This period stimulated interest in
studying human society and behavior in a scientific way. The need to examine

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 society, politics, history and economic life paved the way for the birth of social
sciences.
The term “Social Science” only appeared until the 19 th to mid-20th century
(New World Encyclopedia, 2020). It initially appeared in 1842 in the book, An
Inquiry into the Principles of the Distribution of Wealth Most Conducive to Human
Happiness by William Thompson (1775-1833). The term “social science” has come to
refer generally to all disciplines that analyze society and culture; from anthropology
to political science to linguistics.

EMERGENCE OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCE DISCIPLINES

Let us look back on the events and the people who shaped and laid the foundations for
the nine disciplines of Social Sciences.

1. Anthropology (study of humanity)

•The emergence of anthropology as a discipline can be traced on the Ancient
Greece during the time of Herodotus (484- 425 BC) (dela Cruz et al., 2016, p.
23). When Herodotus recorded important events in the Greek- Persian Wars, he
took to account the cultural background of Greece and Persia.
•The study of anthropology was advanced by Franz Boas (1858-1942), known as the
"Father of Modern Anthropology". Boas introduced the concept of cultural relativism
which is a point of view that sees all cultures to be equal with each other. There is
no such thing as superior or inferior culture (Riodique, 2016, p. 67). He is also one
of the pioneers who fought discrimination against immigrants, blacks and
indigenous peoples of America. Boas believed that through anthropology, people
would have a wider understanding of human interaction by studying its culture. His
social reforms and theories were adopted by anthropologists today.

2. Demography (study of human population)

•The study of human population has its roots as early as the ancient period.
Kautilya, a contemporary of Plato, believed that a large population is a source of
military, political and economic strength of a nation. (dela Cruz et al., 2016, p.
35). This was also supported by Ibn Khaldin, a 14th century Arab historian,
who believed that a large population is important for expansion of imperial
power. However, this thinking was also reversed when an increase in population
growth is seen as a threat in developing countries.
•Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834) an economist and writer of An Essay on
the Principle of Population (1798) declared that population increases at a faster
rate than the food supply. As a result, humanity is never far from starvation
(Perry, 1989, p. 531).
•John Graunt (1623-1687) is regarded as the founder of demography. His book
Natural and Political Observations Made Upon the Bills of Mortality (1662) laid the
foundation for modern statistics and demography.

3. Economics (study of efficient allocation of scarce resources)

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 • The period of Enlightenment has inspired the birth of Economics (dela Cruz et
al., 2016, p. 26). Adam Smith (1723-1790) regarded as the Father of Economics is
credited for creating the field of Economics. His book entitled An Inquiry to the
Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776) lay the foundations for economic
theories and doctrine. Smith advocated the doctine of laissez faire (letalone policy)
which means that government should not interfere with business. This paved the
way for the creation of a free-market economy.
• The Industrial Revolution (1760-1840), a period in history characterized by
rapid industrialization and urbanization brought about by the advances in
technology, saw the development of new economic theories. 19th century thinkers
spent a great deal in offering solutions to the impact of industrialization.
• David Ricardo (1772-1823) applied the principles of laissez faire to wages to
maximize profit while Karl Marx (18181883) advocated socialism to protect the rights of
the laborers from the abuses of the capitalists. Ricardo and Marx were two of the
pioneers who developed economic theories as a response to the impact of
industrialization.

4. Geography (study of the interaction between the natural environment and the people
living in it)
• It was during the Hellenistic Age (323 BC-30 BC), a period when Greek
cultural influence and power reached the peak of its geographical expansion, that
the science of geography emerged.
• Eratosthenes (276-194 BC), chief librarian of the Alexandria Library,
pioneered the study of geography. He is the first person to use the term "geography"
and is also regarded as the "Father of Geography". He is also best known for being
the first person to calculate the circumference of the earth. He also created the first
global projection of the world using parallels and meridians based on the available
geographic knowldedge during his time (Britannica, 2020). He also wrote the three-
book volume Geographika, a compilation of his study on the nature of the surface of
the earth focusing on the inhabited portions and the people living in it (dela Cruz et
al., 2016, p. 27). His book became the inspiration for the consequent works and
studies of other geographers.

5. History (study of important recorded events)

• Herodotus (484-425 BC) is considered as the "Father of History". He is credited
as the first historian to employ historical methods in writing history. His vivid
account of the Greek-Persian Wars set a new standard then for reporting
• Thucydides (460-400 BC) improved the writing techniques of Herodotus and
emphasized on factual reporting when he recorded the events during the
Peloponnesian War. (Perry, 1989, p. 84). He applied strict standards of impartiality
and evidence gathering to establish facts.

6. Linguistics (the scientific study of language)

The science of linguistics has been pioneered by the Sophists during ancient
Greece. Sophists are teachers who traveled from city to city teaching speech,
grammar, poetry, gymnastics, mathematics and music to the Athenian youth (Perry,
1989, p. 87). It is believed then that when a person masters the art of public
speaking, they have a higher chance to succeed in politics.

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 Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC) laid the foundation of western
linguistics as part of the study of rhetoric on his book Poetics
Noam Chomsky (1928- ) regarded as the Father of Linguistics has published books in
linguistics and became a dominant model of formal linguistics in recent decades
(Britannica, 2020).

7. Political Science (study of politics, power and government)

Analysis of politics started as early as the times of Confucius (551- 479 BC)
in ancient China and of Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle in ancient
Greece.
Plato (427-347 BC) was the first thinker to analyze political systems. He
expressed his political ideas in his book, the Republic, which is a description of
an ideal state (Perry, 1989, p. 89). While Aristotle (384-322 BC) is regarded as
the Father of Political Science, Plato is considered a pioneer in the field of
political inquiry. His book entitled Politics looked at different forms of
government in terms of how they were run and what benefits and
responsibilities their citizens had. His political views became a source of
inspiration to political thinkers such as Thomas Hobbes and John Locke.
Thomas Hobbes (1558-1679) wrote the book Leviathan.
He believed that a strong ruler is needed to impose order in the state. On the
other hand, John Locke (1632-1704) wrote Two Treatises of Government. He
believes that the purpose of the government is to protect the “natural rights” of
its citizens. According to Locke, all people are born free and equal with a right
to life, liberty, property and pursuit of happiness. He also believed that if a
government fails to protect the rights of its citizens, the people have the right or
duty to overthrow the government and establish a better one. Locke’s theory of
government was immensely influential in modern political thinking. His
principle that government derives its power from the consent of the people
became the foundation of modern democracy.

8. Psychology (study of behavior and mental processes)

The development of psychology could be dated back as early as the ancient Greece
when Aristotle (384-322 BC) claimed that the brain is the seat of the rational
human mind.
The science of psychology was founded by Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920), a German
psychologist and is considered as the Father of Modern Psychology. He
distinguished psychology as a science from philosophy and biology. He was also
the first person to ever call himself a “psychologist”. Wundt also founded the first
formal laboratory for psychological research (dela Cruz, 2016, p. 33).
Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936), a Russian experimental scientist, studied the behavior
and nervous system of animals. He found that an animal’s involuntary actions- its
reflexes could be changed, or conditioned through training.
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), an Austrian neurologist pursued to understand the
workings of an unconscious mind, which he deemed to be the source of human
actions. Freud developed the method known as psychoanalysis, in which mental and
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emotional problems and disorders are treated by trying to discover their sources in the
unconscious mind (Perry, 1989, p. 627).
9. Sociology (study of social interactions)
The science of sociology was born as a result of social changes brought about by the
impact of Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution created massive changes not
only in the field of technology and manufacturing processes, but also in the work and
living pattern of the people. Factory life pulled people away from their homes, changed
their work schedule and weakened their family ties (dela Cruz et al., 2016, p. 34).
Given the existing condition, it required a new way of thinking to understand society
and improve social interactions.
The term sociology was invented by a French philosopher, Auguste Comte (1798-
1857). He emphasized that the study of society must be scientific. Comte favored
positivism, which is a way of understanding that is based on science. He envisioned a
process of social change in which sociologists play important roles in guiding society.
(Deray et al., 2011, p. 21).

Aside from Comte, Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) and Max Weber (1864-1920)
were also considered as pioneer thinkers in sociology in the early 1900’s. They
did careful research, gathered information, and analyzed their findings in
attempts to find out what factors affect the ways people behave in groups.
Durkheim argued that sociology should be the study of social facts. This is the
method he used in studying why people commit suicides. Weber, on the other
hand advocated a valuefree sociology, which means it has to be approached
without the personal bias of the sociologist. He believed that people must be
critical in their concepts and evidences, and they must follow strict logical
principles in their reasoning.

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 ACTIVITIES

Activity 1.1. Pictures of Reality

Objective: Recognize the various Social Science disciplines.

Directions:

1. Examine the pictures below and identify the social issues reflected in each
picture.
2. Identify the Social Science discipline/s that is/are appropriate to each social
issue.
3. Provide a short explanation of your answer in the space provided.

Appropriate Social
Picture Social Issue/s Science Discipline/s and
Explanation

https://pixabay.com/de/photos/m%
C3%BCll-plastik-philippinen-
cebu4252118/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dfat
australianaid/10695910543/

https://www.schriever.af.mil/Ne
ws/ArticleDisplay/Article/13325
35/fight-depression-search-for-
signs/

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 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wik
i/File:Anti-teenage_pregnancy_III.jpg

Directions: Fill-up the data retrieval chart below.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wik
i/File:223National_Day_of_Protest_M
endiola_San_Miguel,_Manila_32.jpg

Activity 2. Data Retrieval Chart

Objective: Trace the historical foundations that paved the way for the growth of social
science disciplines.

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