SEMESTER SPRING 2022

(SOC101)
Assignment No. 01
Student ID: Bc190406520

“Origin of Sociology”
Assignment Objective
Upon completion of this assignment, the students will be able to understand the contribution of
classical theorist in the origin and development of sociology as a discipline.

Background
Sociology is the scientific study of human social life, groups and societies. Sociology as a
distinct discipline emerged about the middle of the 19th century when European social observers
began to use scientific methods to test their ideas. Different theorist contributed in the origin and
the development of sociology with their work.

Question:
In the given scenarios, background and major work of sociologists are explained. Identify the
theorist name and write down his\her three major contributions in the domain of sociology.
Explain the theorist work briefly and write it in your own words.

Scenario Identification Major contributions in the domain of Sociology

Of the
theorist
He was French and Auguste 1.Term Sociology was first used by Frenchman
credited with being the Comte Auguste Comte in 1830. He was primary founder of
founder of sociology. He Sociology.
migrated from a small 2. Gave the idea of Positivism. He emphasized social
town to Paris. He dynamics over social statistics.
advocated for building new 3. Comte did not originate the concept of sociology or
societies on twin its area of study, he greatly extended and elaborated
foundations of science and the field and systematized its content.
industry rather than on
religion and landowner-
serf relationship.
He was an Englishman. He Herbert 1. Herbert Spenser gave
believed that society Spenser Two major contributions to Sociology…
operates under some fixed Organic Analogy
laws and evolve from lower Evolutionary view of history.
to higher forms. He was a 2. He was known as
social second founder of Sociology. He explained Society
operate under fixed laws.
 3. He applied ideas of
Darwin to societies and social individuals.
philosopher rather than a
social researcher.
He was a German. Karl Marx 1.His most important contribution to Sociological
According to him the key to theory was his general mode of analysis, the
human history is Conflict. “Dialectical” Model.
He discussed the clash 2. He was also an early sociologist. He widely write
among two groups of about Philosophy, Economics and History.
people for scarce economic 3. His contributions to sociology are extremely
resources in the social important in identifying the relation between social
world Because of his conflict and societal change.
insights into the
relationship between the
social classes, he is claimed
to be an early sociologist.
He introduced one of the
major perspectives in
sociology.
He was French. His Emile 1. On of his major contributions
primary goal was of getting Durkheim was to help define and establish the field of sociology
sociology recognized as a as an academic discipline.
separate academic 2. Durkheim identified the key role of
discipline. He identified the social interaction
key role of social 3. The Suicide-1897, Education
integration in social life. &Sociology-1922 are some important works of
A concept developed by Durkhiem in the development of Sociology.
sociologist in which we
study how values, culture,
and norms control the
actions and beliefs of
individuals and society as a
whole.
He was a German. His Max Weber 1.Weber contributed broadly to Sociology, as well as
thoughts on power and impacting significant reorientations to other fields. He
social classification of the was considered to be one of the founders of sociology.
individuals in the social 2 Weber worked on cross cultural and historical
world, which he shared in material in order to determine how extensively social
his book titled Economy groups affect people orientation to life.
and Society, led to the 3 .Weber was proponent of anti-positivism thought
complex formulations of and argued that society can be understood by studying
socioeconomic status and social action through interpretive meaning the
social class. The theorist individuals attach to their own actions.
described how the idea of
power, property and
prestige classify the
individuals of the social
world?