Sociology is the study of relationships between people, between groups, between groups and individual people. Sociologists search for explanations of relationships, the sources of relating, patterns and history of relationships.

History

Curiosity about customs, ways of life, purposes and functions of institutions, has a long history. All groups of people have their Genesis stories In a way it is legitimate to say that the Bible is a set of narratives that provides an explanation, and understanding of a people.

Herodotus, the father of history, wrote stories of foreign people - their odd relationships and beliefs, there religions, ceremony., marriage practices, how they waged war, resolved disputes, made music.

Marco Polo, in the thirteenth century, wrote of book of his travels - trading in the far east - explaining the relationships of the tribes, kingdoms, civilizations that he encountered. His 'sociology' was a recipe for others to use in order to trade successfully with people who have different patterns of relationships, values, ways of life.

Ecclesiology - old branch of Christian theological studies that considered the question of human community - what were the human relationship in Eden, then post-fall; the composition, nature and function of the chosen community, and the shape of humanity BC and AD

The 'Jesuit Relations' are a series of journals and reports, sent back by Jesuit missionaries in the European penetration of the americas. They are explanatory writings, with some intended use as guides for the conversion of the heathens.

'Great men, important battles' has  been a type of social study that has been around since Herodotus and the spread of literacy. Explanatory, but usually also with a formative purpose - persuading the reader about not only what happened but also shaping who the reader understand him/herself to be.

The subject matter of social thinking: patterns of behaving, relationships, characteristics of associating, dynamics of associating, regularity of interactions, differences/specializations/stratification within and among groups.

Sociological Imagination and perspective. Studying the forest, not the trees. Noticing strange patterns in everyday matter.

Social Facts - statements about GROUPS, (not individuals) - Durkheim - reasons for RATES of suicide, is a social fact; reason for suicide would be a statement about individual. Social facts are often contingent realities - "You are a college student" is true, but is contingent upon the existence of something called colleges; "Aristotle never graduated from high school.". Historical/cultural/social context is often assumed, unstated, implicit but nearly always necessary for understanding. Conspiratio/conjuratio

Early Social Philosophers

J J Rousseau	T Jefferson	Harriet Martineau

Auguste Comte (1798-1857), Sociology - named by the Frenchman Comte - arises as an intellectual discipline distinct from history, during the 'Great Social Transformation'. Sociology as an academic enterprise was established/captured by the Universities in the late nineteenth century - becoming somewhat divorced from, or distinct from, politics, praxis and social action.

Early Social Scientists

Social thinking and theorizing associated with rebellion and revolution grew up out of the trade union movement  -or its predecessor in the 1830's and  1840's

The Great Social Transformation - to focus on economic and technological aspects of this period of history the phrase "The Industrial Revolution" is more common - saw the rise of an immense interest in the formation of society - not just its explanation. People thought the we actually could '...form a more perfect union.' Sociology always had an agenda, though not always an admitted one. Knowledge for its own sake has not been the hallmark of social thinkers.

Nonetheless, with the rise of Academic Sociology, there was and continues to be a strong tradition that the knowledge produced by sociologists should aspire to the rigorous methodologies of the natural sciences. This, so that the community could be confident in the explanations of social conditions, social dynamics, and social forces.

Karl Marx - complex societies are comprised of different classes whose interests are distinct, sometimes contradictory. Societies change as these internal contradictions and conflicts are worked out.

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)- social Darwinism, societies that are 'fittest' continue

Max Weber - the engine driving societies is not just material interests, but also significance given to power, prestige, status and wealth.

EmileDurkheim - defines social fact. Recognizes object of study are patterns that are characteristics of society, not individuals. Society persists through interrelationship of various institutions performing distinct functions.

Sociological schism - academics/activism

Social Activists

Jane Addams, Chicago, Hull House, The Settlement Movement

		W.E.B.DuBois, U of P, and Philadelphia, study of the social condition American Negro

Harry Hopper - In FDR administration, architect of social programs of New Deal - Social Security, WPA, CCC.

American Academic foundations

Mead, Cooley, Merton, Mills, Parsons,

Explanatory Schools

Idealists, Historical Materialist, Functionalist, Conflict, Symbolic Interaction, Technosophy

Sociology and the other -ologies

Science and Humanities - subject matter, approach, ambitions, authority/authorization, processes, validations, privileges.

How? or Why? Prediction/Explanation.

Epistemology and Hermeneutics - what is true, factual? How do we interpret anything? What constitutes a compelling/persuasive/satisfying explanation.What function does knowledge perform, or how is knowledge used.

Compare/Contrast - Anthropology, Political Science, Political Economy, Economics, Psychology, Social Psychology, Literary Criticism, Social Philosophy, Sociology, Biology, Chemistry, Physics.