I think every regular ts.com member has now posted in this thread.
Must be a new record....
The term "sociology" was coined by Auguste Comte in 1838 from (Any dialect of the language of ancient Rome) Latin socius (companion, associate) and (A native or inhabitant of Greece) Greek logia (study of, speech). Comte hoped to unify all studies of humankind--including history, psychology and economics. His own sociological scheme was typical of the 19th century; he believed all human life had passed through the same distinct historical stages and that, if one could grasp this progress, one could prescribe the remedies for social ills.
The first book with the term 'sociology' in its title was written in the mid-19th century by the English philosopher (English philosopher and sociologist who applied the theory of natural selection to human societies (1820-1903)) Herbert Spencer. In the (North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776) United States, the discipline was taught by its name for the first time at the University of Kansas, (Roman martyr; supposedly Lawrence was ordered by the police to give up the Church's treasure and when he responded by presenting the poor people of Rome he was roasted to death on a gridiron (died in 258)) Lawrence in 1890 under the course title Elements of Sociology (the oldest continuing sociology course in America) and the first full fledged university department of sociology in the (North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776) United States was established in 1892 at the (A university in Chicago, Illinois) University of Chicago by Albion W. Small, who in 1895 founded the American Journal of Sociology (*). The first European department of sociology was founded in 1895 at the University of Bordeaux by (French sociologist and first professor of sociology at the Sorbonne (1858-1917)) Émile Durkheim, founder of L'Année Sociologique (1896). In 1919 a sociology department was established in Germany at the Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich by (German sociologist and pioneer of the analytic method in sociology (1864-1920)) Max Weber and in 1920 in (A republic in central Europe; the invasion of Poland by Germany in 1939 started World War II) Poland by Florian Zenecki. The first sociology departments in the (A monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland) United Kingdom were founded after the (A war between the Allies (Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Iran, Iraq, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherl) Second World War.
International cooperation in sociology began in 1893 when Rene Worms founded the small Institut International de Sociologie that was eclipsed by the much larger International Sociologist Association (*) starting in 1949 (ISA). In 1905 the American Sociological Association, the world's largest association of professional sociologists, was founded.
Other "classical" theorists of sociology from the late 19th and early 20th centuries include (Founder of modern communism; wrote the Communist Manifesto with Engels in 1848; wrote Das Kapital in 1867 (1818-1883)) Karl Marx, ( Ferdinand Toennies, (French sociologist and first professor of sociology at the Sorbonne (1858-1917)) Émile Durkheim, (Italian sociologist and economist whose theories influenced the development of fascism in Italy (1848-1923)) Vilfredo Pareto, and (German sociologist and pioneer of the analytic method in sociology (1864-1920)) Max Weber. Like Comte, none of these sociologists thought of themselves as just "sociologists". In particular, their works address (A strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny) religion, (The activities of educating or instructing or teaching; activities that impart knowledge or skill) education, (The branch of social science that deals with the production and distribution and consumption of goods and services and their management) economics, (The science of mental life) psychology, (The philosophical study of moral values and rules) ethics, (The rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics) philosophy, and (The rational and systematic study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truth) theology. With the exception of Marx, their most enduring influence has been on sociology, and it is in this field that their theories are still considered most applicable.
Early sociological studies considered the field to be similar to the (The sciences involved in the study of the physical world and its phenomena) natural sciences like (The science of matter and energy and their interactions) physics or (The science that studies living organisms) biology. As a result, many researchers argued that the methods and (The system of methods followed in a particular discipline) methodology used in the 'hard' sciences were perfectly suited for use in the study of sociology. The effect of employing the (A method of investigation involving observation and theory to test scientific hypotheses) scientific method and stressing ((philosophy) the doctrine that knowledge derives from experience) empiricism was the distinction of sociology from (The rational and systematic study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truth) theology, (The rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics) philosophy, and (The philosophical study of being and knowing) metaphysics. This also resulted in sociology being recognized as an empirical science. This early sociological approach, supported by August Comte, led to positivism, a methodological approach based on sociological naturalism.
However, as early as the 19th century positivist and naturalist approaches to studying social life were questioned by scientists like Wilhelm Dilthey and Heinrich Rickert, who argued that the natural world differs from the social world, as human society has unique aspects like (The message that is intended or expressed or signified) meanings, (An arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance) symbols, (Prescribed guide for conduct or action) rules, (A standard or model or pattern regarded as typical) norms, and (The quality (positive or negative) that renders something desirable or valuable) values. These elements of society result in human (A particular society at a particular time and place) cultures. This view was further developed by Max Weber, who introduced antipositivism humanistic sociology). According to this view, which is closely related to antinaturalism, sociological research must concentrate on humans and their cultural values. This has led to some controversy on how one can draw the line between (Click link for more info and facts about subjective) subjective and (The lens or system of lenses nearest the object being viewed) objective research and also influenced hermeneutical studies.
Thats a fact.Now how bout a beer. All this talk about this fine new machine has made me thirsty!
-Cliff
