SOCIOLOGY 1200 Essay

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGYFACULTY OF SOCIAL AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES198120035623500BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANOSOC 1200 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY I ASSIGNMENTSociologist study almost every aspect of life in society. With examples explain the importance of the discipline of sociology.GROUP 5ASHRAF AHMAD MUHAMMAD EES/17/ARC/00051ABUBAKAR SHEHU MUHAMMAD EES/17/ARC/00032GHALI HAMISU MAIKATAKO EES/17/ARC/00022AL-AMEEN AMINU AYAMA EES/17/ARC/00012ABDULLAHI ZAHRA ADO EES/17/ARC/00004OBAFEMI ADETOLA RAPHAEL EES/17/ARC/00040MOSES RAPHEL AVONG EES/17/ARC/00031IBRAHIM AMINU BELLO EES/17/ARC/00013AMINA ADO IBRAHIM EES/17/ARC/00009BASHIR MUHAMMAD EES/15/ARC/00125ZAINAB ABBA DATTI EES/15/ARC/00126FATIMA MUHAMMAD EES/15/ARC/00129SALEH ADAMU MUHAMMAD EES/15/ARC/00128MUHAMMAD NURADEEN ALABA EES/18/ARC/00181IBRAHIM SHAWAI YUSUF EES/18/ARC/00187INTRODUCTIONThe word sociology is a combination of the Latin word socius’ and Greek word Logus, Logus implies study on a high level and socius points to society.

Thus, etymologically, sociology means the study of society on a highly generalized or abstract level. In other words, the etymological meaning of sociology is the science of society’.

Sociology is the science of society as a whole. No other social science endeavors to study society in totality. Social sciences like history, economics, political science, anthropology, psychology etc. deal with particular aspect of society. Political science deals with political institutions and political activities. History deals with unique events relating to past. Economics is concerned with activities relating to production and consumption. These social sciences do not give a complete picture of the society. Sociology on the other hand, studies society in its entirety. It essentially and fundamentally deals with that network of social relationships we call society. Science has been defined as a body of knowledge. Sociology is also a body of knowledge about society. Sociology as science of society refers to a body of knowledge about society which has been empirically tested. Society may be defined as the complicated network and ever-changing pattern of social relationships. Sociology is the science of society, thus defined.Sociology has been defined in number of ways by different scholars. There are as many definitions of sociology as there are sociologists.Auguste Comte (1839) defined sociology as the science of human association or the study of gregarious life. In 1851, he defined sociology again as an abstract theoretical science of social phenomena. According to him it is the business of sociology to discover and abstract social laws and thereby to explain the social phenomena.Other scholars such as Harry M. Johnson saw sociology as a science that deals with social groups: their internal forms or modes of organization, the processes that tend to maintain or change these forms of organization, and the relations between groups. Sociology is the study of social relationships. Small defines sociology as the science of social relations. According to R.E. Park and F.W. Burgess, Sociology is the science of collective behavior. Sociology may be defined as a body of scientific knowledge about human relationships, according J. F. Cuber.Morris Ginsberg articulates that In the broadest sense, sociology is the study of human interactions and interrelations, their conditions and consequences. IMPORTANCE OF SOCIOLOGYIn today’s world, the importance of Sociology is growing day by day. In this era of globalization every next day social life of man is becoming more and more complicated. It is Sociology which makes people to understand the complexities of life and guides them how to cope with the ever-changing situation. The practical aspect of Sociology is very important in the study of social problems, social work and social adjustmentSociology makes a scientific study of societyPrior to the emergence of sociology, the study of society was carried on in an unscientific manner and society had never been focused in any science. The study of sociology made it possible to understand and learn scientific ways to study society. It is through the study of sociology that the truly scientific study of the society has been possible. Sociology because of its bearing upon many of the problems of the present world has assumed such a great importance that is considered the best approach to all the social sciences.Sociology sheds more light on the social nature of manNo man is an island. Sociology digs deep into the social nature of man. It tells us why man is a social animal, why he lives in a group, communities and societies. It examines the relationship between individual and society, the impact of society on man and other matters.Sociology increases the power of social actionThe science of society assists an individual to understand himself, his capacities, talents and limitations. It enables him to adjust himself to the environment. Knowledge of society, social groups, social institutions, associations, their functions etc. helps us to lead an effective social life.Sociology studies role of the institutions in the development of the individualsIt is through sociology that scientific study of the great social institutions and the relation of the individual to each is being made. The home and family, the school and education, the church and religion, the state and government, industry and work, the community and association, these are institutions through which society functions. Sociology studies these institutions and their role in the development of the individual and suggests suitable measures for strengthening them with a view to enable them to serve the individual better.Study of sociology is indispensable for understanding and planning of societySociety is a complex phenomenon with a multitude of complexities. It is impossible to understand and solve its numerous problems without support of sociology. It is rightly said that we cannot understand and mend society without any knowledge of its mechanism and construction. Without the investigation carried out by sociology no real effective social planning would be possible. It helps us to determine the most efficient means for reaching the goals agreed upon. A certain amount of knowledge about society is necessary before any social policies can be carried out.Sociology is of great importance in the solution of social problemsThe present world is suffering from many problems that can be solved through scientific study of the society. It is the task of sociology to study the social problems through the methods of scientific research and to find out solution to them. The scientific study of human affairs will ultimately provide the body of knowledge and principles that will enable us to control the conditions of social life and improve them.Sociology has drawn our attention to the intrinsic worth and dignity of manSociology has been instrumental in changing our attitude towards human beings. In a specialized society we are all limited as to the amount of the whole organization and culture that we can experience directly. We can hardly know the people of other areas intimately. In order to have insight into and appreciation of the motives by which others live and the conditions under which they exist knowledge of sociology is essential.Sociology has changed our outlook with regard to the problems of crimeIt is through the study of sociology that our whole outlook on various aspects of crime has change. The criminals are now treated as human beings suffering from mental deficiencies and efforts are accordingly made to rehabilitate them as useful members of the society.Sociology has made great contribution to enrich human cultureHuman culture has been made richer by the contribution of sociology. The social phenomenon is now understood in the light of scientific knowledge and enquiry. According to Lowie most of us harbor the comfortable delusion that our way of doing things is the only sensible if not only possible one. Sociology has given us training to have rational approach to questions concerning oneself, one’s religion, customs, morals and institutions. It has further taught us to be objective, critical and dispassionate. It enables man to have better understanding both of himself and of others. By comparative study of societies and groups other than his existence, his life becomes richer and fuller than it would otherwise be. Sociology also impresses upon us the necessity of overcoming narrow personal prejudices, ambitions and class hatred.Sociology has proven to be of great importance in the solution of international problemsThe headway made by physical sciences has brought the nations of the world nearer to each other and has brought on the phenomena known as globalization. But in the social field the world has been left behind by the revolutionary progress of the science. The world is divided politically economically and socially giving rise to tension and conflict. Man has failed to bring in peace. Sociology can help us in understanding the underlying causes and tensions.REFERENCESFerrante, Joan. Sociology – A Global Perspective. 7th ed. 2011Plummer, Ken. Sociology – The Basics. 2010Durkheim, E., J.A Spaulding, and G. Simpson. Suicide: A Study in Sociology. New York: Macmillan, 1947