Approach:
Sociology’s emergence, because of the ‘social changes’ and the ‘intellectual climate’ prevailing in Europe.
Intellectual conditions: ‘Enlightenment Period’, Post – Enlightenment period’, developments. – Main contributions in terms of ‘methodology.’
Impact of these changes on ‘radical and conservative thinkers ‘ and Sociology being an intellectual effort by them to ‘objectively’ understand the changes in European society .
Answer:
The emergence of Sociology , as a study of society , can best be understood in terms of understanding the relationship between , ‘society and ideas .’It emerged first in Europe, as a response to the “social conditions and the intellectual climate” prevailing in Europe around eighteenth century.
The ‘Enlightenment period’, in the European society, is the most appropriate point of departure, into the study of the origins of ‘Sociological Theory.’ A ‘scientific approach’ to the study of society dates back to that period. The eighteenth century thinkers began to study the human conditions in a scientific way using the ‘methods of the natural sciences.’ Also, these thinkers upheld ‘reason’ as a measure to judge ‘social institutions’ and their suitability for human nature.
In the ‘post -Enlightenment ‘ period , there were three , intellectual influences , that led to the emergence of Sociology
The Philosophy of History: The contributions of August Comte, Herbert Spencer, Karl Marx , reflected the impact of this’ intellectual trend’ in their sociological writings. Its contribution on the philosophical side can be seen in the notions of ‘development and progress.’ On the scientific side, it has given the concepts of ‘historical periods of social types.’
The Biological Theories of Evolution: ‘Herbert Spencer and Emile Durkheim, reflected this intellectual trend , in their writings .The conception of society , as an organism , led to the formulation of the term of ‘social evolution.
Social Surveys: It forms an important element in modern Sociology. It argued that only, through ‘knowledge of the social conditions’ can one arrive at solutions to solve social problems, like ‘poverty’ prevalent in society. Scientific methods thus came to be regarded as the most accurate and objective.
These ‘intellectual climate’ along with the social conditions such as French revolution, Industrial revolution etc. moved both conservative and radical thinkers. According to the ‘conservatives’ such conditions would lead to ‘chaos and disorder.’ According to the radicals, such changes would lead to ‘social transformation.’ Therefore, certain ‘changes’ taking place in the eighteenth and nineteenth century in Europe bothered social thinkers. Sociology , grew essentially as a product of the ‘ reflections of the great thinkers’ reflecting on the social changes , and their impact on society .
The discipline was an ‘intellectual response’ to the conditions unfolding in a fast changing European society.
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