The Story of Sociology Flashcards
Sociology
the systematic study of human society and behavior; identified as a science discipline by the U.S. National Science Foundation
Industrial Revolution
a period ranging from 1760 to 1840 when agricultural societies shifted to industrial ones; this transition affected every aspect of life
Population Growth Rate
measures the change in population over a unit time period
Auguste Comte
(1798-1857) a French philosopher who coined the term “sociology” in 1838 and created the doctrine of positivism which argued that understanding should be based on science; often referred to as “THE father of Sociology”
“The Law of Three Stages”
theory created by Auguste Comte that paved the way for the creation of Sociology that claimed the history of mankind could be broken down into three stages- theological stage, metaphysical stage, and the scientific stage
Theological Stage
the period of history that extends from the beginning of civilization to the end of the Middle Ages (mid-1300s) when society expressed God’s will; one element of Auguste Comte’s “Law of Three Stages”
Metaphysical Stage
the period of history that extends from the Renaissance of the 1400s through the mid-1500s when society was seen as a natural system rather than just a reflection of God’s will; one element of Auguste Comte’s “Law of Three Stages”
American Journal of Sociology
established in 1895 by Albion Small; the oldest academic journal of sociology in the United States
Scientific or Positivist Stage
the period of history that began with scientists applying scientific laws to the physical world (beginning with Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton) and that continued through Auguste Comte’s lifetime when scientific laws were then applied to society; one element of Auguste Comte’s “Law of Three Stages”
American Sociological Association
a non-profit organization founded in 1905 as the American Sociological Society, currently the world’s largest association of professional sociologists
Social Sciences
a branch of science that deals with the institutions and functioning of human society and with the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of society; includes the fields of psychology, sociology, political science, communication studies, social work, anthropology, and economics
Psychology
the science of the mind or of mental states and processes
Political Science
the science of politics, or of the principles and conduct of government
Communication Studies
an academic field that deals with processes of human exchange of information
Social Work
work designed to improve the social conditions in a community often through relief of poverty or the promotion of child welfare