The Sociological Perspective

Question 1

Sociology

Answer 1

systematic study of human society (groups)

Question 2

The SOC Perspective involves

Answer 2

• “seeing the general in the particular” (Peter Berger)
  -understanding oneself by understanding others in similar social context (C. Wright Mills)
  -comparing/ assessing low income and high income countries

Question 3

Who coined the term “sociology”?

Answer 3

Auguste Compte in 1838
-Socio (latin) :to associate
-logy (Greek): study of

Question 4

Sociology history

Answer 4

-Age of Reason and Enlightenment (17 and 18th centuries): new era of social thought
-Switch from theological explanation of world to scientific
-Idea of free will becomes popular
-Industrial Revolution (18 and 19th century)
Sociological issues: immigration, overpopulation, health, hygiene, crime scene

Question 5

Suicide

Answer 5

-considered by many to be a personal issue
-Emile Durkheim related suicide to the
cohesiveness in society instead of viewing it as an
isolated act that could be understood by studying
individual personalities or inherited tendencies.

Question 6

August Compte philosophy

Answer 6

Posivitism: the world can BEST be understood through scientific inquiry (as opposed to religion)