GROUP 8

SOCIETY AND
THE SOCIAL
THINKERS
BSISM2 SECTION 47
MEANING OF SOCIETY AND
SOCIOLOGY
The word society comes from the Latin word,
socius which means companion, associates, or
having to do with a relationship. Hence, we can
say that society is a group of people. If we try
to study further, a group cannot exist without a
leader, without norms and identity as well.
From its simple meaning, we can derive and
expound further our understanding about
society by defining it: society is a group of
people sharing common norms, laws, belief
systems with a particular leader and having a
specific place as their territory.
MEANING OF SOCIETY AND
SOCIOLOGY
The specific social science that studies about
society is Sociology and the people studying
sociology are called Sociolologists in
particular and social thinkers or social
scientists in general.

The etymology of the word Sociology is derived

from, socius, which means society and logos
meaning science or study of. From its
etymology, we can simply say, Sociology is the
study of society.
SOCIOLOGY: A SOCIAL
THINKER
In this present time, we have enjoyed the fruits
of the hardships the Sociologists over the
centuries. Their contributions were significant.
The result of their studies and scientific
investigations provided better and clearer
understanding as society develops and adapts
new ideas thoughts.

The following in-depth discussion about the

development if Sociology in Europe, America
and in the Philippines is taken from, Society and
Culture... by Wenceslao B. Ecoben and Alicia M.
Palparan (2015) published by Books Atbp
Publishing Corporation.
SOCIOLOGY IN
EUROPE
August Comte
French Philosopher (19th century) coined
and used the term Sociology.

He proposed Sociology to be part of

the social science that explains man's
social behavior as he relates himself
with other person. August Comte is
regarded as the "Father of
Sociology".
SOCIOLOGY IN
EUROPE
Karl Marx (1818-1883)
a German thinker, believed that
human society is evolving into a
perfect state in which everyone would
be equal and where the capitalist
economic system would be
overthrown, an idea from which the
ideology of communism originated.
SOCIOLOGY IN
EUROPE
Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)

an English philosopher,
compared society with an
organism and thus suggested
the close relatedness of
institutions to any society in
order to function as a whole.
 SOCIOLOGY IN
EUROPE
Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)
is a French intellectual and the first to
teach social science in the University
level in France. He believed that in
every society a key element in social
behavior is social cohesion, or
"solidarity." Social cohesion or
solidarity is the force needed for
cooperation and unity. His is known
through his study about Suicide.
 SOCIOLOGY IN
EUROPE
Max Weber (1864-1920)
German politician, made studies on
capitalism, industrialization, and
bureaucracy. He believed that
capitalism must be caused by
religious attitudes toward work and
materialism. He also believed that
industrialization in Europe was
brought about by the changing social
order.
 SOCIOLOGY IN
EUROPE
Ferdinand Toennie (1908-1988)

puts his interest on how to increase

production through the division of
labor, specialization and impersonal
forms of interaction in a highly
industrialized and urbanized society.
SOCIOLOGY IN
AMERICA
American sociology was
historical in approach and
macroscopic in orientation.
American sociologists
recognize the discipline on
the unitary rather than on
the wholistic standpoint.
SOCIOLOGY IN
AMERICA
Lester Ward (1841-1913)
a liberal social reformer. He
believed that social progress is
possible only through intelligent
social action. He also advocated
the use of scientific knowledge
as guide in restructuring society
towards improvement.
SOCIOLOGY IN
AMERICA
Robert Park (1864-1944)
a member of the Chicago
School of Sociology. He
brought his interest by
studying city or urban
processes and development.
SOCIOLOGY IN
AMERICA
Other social thinkers from
Chicago University include,
Charles Horton Cooley,
Herbert Mead and W.I.
Thomas whose works were
on social interaction in the
development of human
thoughts and actions.
SOCIOLOGY IN
AMERICA

Talcott Parsons (1902-

1979)
is a known Harvard social
thinker. He developed a
general theory on action
and social phenomena.
SOCIOLOGY IN
AMERICA
Robert K. Merton (1910-
2003) Columbia University
scholar whose interests
were about empirical testing
and understanding concepts
like, social structures, self-
fulfilling prophecies,
deviance and bureaucracies.
SOCIOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES
The development of sociology in the
country was brought about by two
realities, namely: (1) sociology sociolo as a
course in the tertiary level and (2) the use
of sociological knowledge to applied
disciplines.

Sociology started as a college subject

taught in the University of Santo Thomas in
1896 and in the University of the Philippines
in 1919.
SOCIOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES

Fr. Valentine Marin, O.P.

was the first to teach Sociology in the
Royal and Pontifical University of Santo
Tomas (UST) in 1896 for the
Criminology students.
SOCIOLOGY IN THE
PHILIPPINES
Serafin Macaraig
was the first Filipino Sociology scholar
who obtaine a doctoral degree from
the University of Wisconsin, USA in
1930's. He wrote a book "Introduction
to Sociology" which became the
textbook in Sociology for the University
of the Philippines (UP).
SOCIOLOGY IN THE
PHILIPPINES
Fr. Frank Lynch, S.J.
of Ateneo de Manila University
founded in 1960e Institute of
Philippine Culture. It became a
moving spirit for research Socio-
Economic Development.
SOCIOLOGY IN THE
PHILIPPINES
Prof. Randolf 'Randy David
obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
a UP in 1965 and took up his doctoral
studies in the University of Mancheste.
He left his studies and went back home
to be with his countrymen during Marital
Law under Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos. He
became a professor of Sociology in the
University of the Philippines.
SOCIOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES
Prof. Randy David became a prominent
social thinker as he joined the media
industry. He hosted the public talk show -
Public Forum - of the Continental
Broadcasting Company (IBC-13). This was
the only tall show using Filipino as
medium of language. He later moved to
Associated Broadcasting Company (ABC-
Channel 5) to host another public talk
show -Public Life with Randy David.
SOCIOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES
Asian Social Institute (ASI)
is a graduate institute of learning specializing in
Economics, Sociology, Social Work and Social
Services & Development in the country. At
present, ASI is offering doctorate degree in
Applied Cosmic Anthropology (Ph.D.) a graduate
studies program duly recognized by the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) No. C-
01 series of 1995 by Sec. Ricardo T. Gloria. ASI is
a graduate school of social transformative praxis.
It was established in 1962 by Fr. Francis Senden,
CICM, Ph.D.
SOCIOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES

Asian Social Institute is now

headed by a very respected
president and prolific writer. Dr.
Mina Ramirez, who sustains the
idealism and visionary works of Fr.
Seden. Dr. Ramirez is a visiting
lecturer to the Vatican in the field
of social issues.
SOCIOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES

Today, the study of Society

(Sociology) is a basic
requirement to all academic
courses leading to a bachelor
degree.
A NEED TO STUDY
SOCIOLOGY
The study of sociology enables us to
apply the scientific processes into our
daily life and problems. With the
learning or skills that we have
acquired, we see through some of the
folk's traditional and conventional
wisdom of our society which are unique
in their own and observed through the
years and no one has ever questioned
its veracity and legality.
A NEED TO STUDY
SOCIOLOGY
Studying Sociology teaches us to
consider perspectives different from
ours and to look beyond the individual
in our desire to understand individual
behavior. It encourages us to look and
analyze not only how people and
events are unique and different but
also how people share perceptions and
how various events occur in patterns
(Zulueta, 1998).
A NEED TO STUDY
SOCIOLOGY
Furthermore, it enables us to see the connection
between our own personal experience and the
social forces in the bigger social world which
influence our life. We note that the various
facets of our life-familial, religious, economic,
political, education are shaped by social forces
and larger social patterns in our society. The
promise of Sociology, according to Mills, is that
with all the problems and confusion of modern
life, it can help us understand what is
happening to us and why such social
phenomena occur (Panopio, et. al. 1994).
AREAS OF SOCIOLOGY
There have been many attempts to divide
Sociology into many area however, let us
consider one of the most common and
widely subscrib divisions. The areas of
Sociology were divided into seven; these
are:

1. Social Organization: This area includes

studying social groups, social institutions,
social stratification and mobility, ethnic
relations, and bureaucracy.
AREAS OF SOCIOLOGY

2. Social psychology: This area

is concerned with the study of
human nature as the outcome of
group life and collective behavior.
It al studies how group behavior
affects the individual and how the
individual affects the society.
AREAS OF SOCIOLOGY

3. Social change: This area involves

the study of change in culture,
population, technology, political
processes, social transformation,
social relations, conflicts, reform and
revolution. It also includes problems of
the cultural minorities, mass
communication, the impact of natural
disasters, and global war.
AREAS OF SOCIOLOGY
4. Human Ecology: This area
includes the population size, growth,
demographic profile, migration,
economic status, mental illness.
alcohol and drug abuse, prostitution,
criminalities, oppression, exploitation
and even preservation of natural
resources in order that the next
generation will have something for
their sustenance.
AREAS OF SOCIOLOGY
5. Population Studies: This
area is concerned with census
on population, household
composition, change, and
quality as they influence the
economic, political, social and
cultural aspect of human
society.
AREAS OF SOCIOLOGY

6. Sociological theory and

research: This area is
concerned with the discovery,
development, and replication of
research tools that will test its
applicability and usefulness for
the improvement of human life
and social environment.
AREAS OF SOCIOLOGY
7. Applied Sociology: This area is
concerned with the findings of pure
sociological research which can be
beneficial in solving the problems
arising from marriage and family, child
development, juvenile delinquency,
criminology, and many more. The
result is purely to assist the
sociological problems through
sociological research.
When man begins to write his own
history, he begins to relate with athers.
He opens himself to others. He invests
himself to profit attention or advertises
himself to get a break through a
conversation. This is the beginning of
his socialization. This is how Sociology
begins.
As conversation commences, man begins
to establish relationship. He begins to
understand others and make himself
understood at the same time. He stretches
out his hand to hold the other's hand and
feel it. With the other's hand, he feels
comfort and security. He relates himself
with other people. This is how Sociology
acts.
In the noon time of his life, he realizes
that he cannot live alone. He needs
somebody to relate with. He needs
someone to be at his side. He has to
belong to a certain community. He is
indeed a social being.
Being a member of the society, he
has to conform to the culture of the
social milieu where he is a part of. He
has to respond. He has the duties and
responsibilities to fulfill.
There is Sociology. In the early part of
our human existence, in the crib, in
the noontime of our life and in our
twilight years, sociology plays a very
important role.
 Thank you
for listening
guys!