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Lesson 3

The Emergence and Definition of Social Science

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Esperidion Verano Jr.
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26 views18 pages

Lesson 3

The Emergence and Definition of Social Science

Uploaded by

Esperidion Verano Jr.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Emergence of Social

Science
Introduction
 The social sciences study all
human behavior. They all begin
with a description of behavior and
the rules and motivations for it.
Although they may use different
techniques to gather information,
they have a common starting
point. Thus, they are constantly
borrowing from each other.
 Itis at the level of analysis that the
social sciences differ from each
other. Because they apply different
concepts, they have different
perspectives. The perspective of
economics is utility. (what is
useful is good) Humans are viewed
as decision makers who strive to
maximize their satisfaction. Value is
determined by the tradeoffs they
make as part of this process.
Psychologist too,
concentrate on the individual,
but the major concept is
personality. Behavior results
from a generic background
combined with learning.
 Political scientist and
sociologist view the
individual as part of society.
Political behaviorist tend to focus
on the formal organization of
society while sociologist focus on
informal organization, but the
concept of functionalism
requires both discipline to study
 Anthropologist see behavior
from the perspective of
culture. Their attention is on the
norms or rules of behavior. The
meaning of the norms must be
understood if one is to find out
how they direct behavior. Meaning
can be established only if one
realizes that the norms are bound
History of Social Science
The Historical Backgroud of
the Growth of Social Sciences
• The development and
progress of human
knowledge. Social Sciences
can be traced back to Greek
Civilization
• Socrates Plato Aristotle
 Before the birth of modern social
sciences in the West, the study of
society, culture and politics were
based on social and political
philosophy .In return, social and
political philosophies were
informed by theological reasoning
grounded in Revelation based on
the holy bible.
Philosophy is a district
from Science. Science
would have not develop if
it remained under the
wings of philosophy and
theology.
 The scientific revolution which begun with
Nicolaus Copernicus refers to historical changes
in thought and belief.
 Copernicus believes together with some of his
students and friends that the earth is the center
of the solar system and of the universe. This
contradicts and upset some theologians
because his ideas did not fit well with the notion
of an almighty God how had created heaven
only after completing earth. Even so, most
thinking people soon accepted the Copernican
version of the solar system, as did leaders of
the Church hierarchy.
The Secularization of Learning & Education

The modern period marked the


growing triumph of scientific
method over religious dogma
and theological thinking .The
Protestant movement led by
Martin Luther eroded the power
of the Roman Catholic Church.
Enlightenment Period

 European intellectual movement of


the late 17th and 18th centuries
emphasizing reason and
individualism rather than tradition.
It was heavily influenced by 17th-
century philosophers such as
Descartes, Locke, and Newton, and
its prominent exponents include
Kant, Goethe, Voltaire, Rousseau,
 Inthe Medieval Period, universities
relied mainly on religious tradition
and the bible to explain the nature of
the universe and the place of human
being in the grand scheme of things,
the modern universities started to
rely on science and its method to
interpret the world. Max Weber, one
of the leading figures in modern
sociology, described this process as
 Rationalization (also known as
making excuses is a defense
mechanism in which controversial
behaviors or feelings are justified
and explained in a seemingly
rational or logical manner to avoid
the true explanation, and are made
consciously tolerable – or even
admirable and superior – by
plausible means
The rise of Universities

 As students at a university, you are part of a great


tradition. Consider the words you use: campus,
tuition, classes, courses, lectures, faculty,
students, administration, chancellor, dean,
professor, sophomore, junior, senior, fees,
assignments, laboratory, dormitory, requirements,
prerequisites, examinations, texts, grades,
convocation, graduation, commencement,
procession, diploma, alumni association,
donations, and so forth. These are the language of
the university, and they are all derived from Latin,
almost unchanged from their medieval origins. The
organization of this university, its activities and its
traditions, are continuations of a barroom brawl
The Dissolution of Feudal Social Relations

 With the intensification of commerce


and trade in the 17th century, many
medieval guilds or worker’s cooperative
were dissolved and absorbed into the
emerging factory system. The factory
system and the unprecedented growth
in the urban centers due to trade and
commerce, attracted a lot of
agricultural workers and mass of rural
population to migrate to urban centers.
Trade and Commerce

 For many centuries the Great Silk Road


connected a complex network of trade
routes from Europe with Asia. It was a way
to establish contact with the great
civilizations of China, India, the Near East
and Europe. Trade caravans, diplomatic
missions, merchants representatives of
religious circles, dervishes, warriors –
millions people have passed on this road
through time with nothing frightening
these brave travelers, neither the difficult
The Rise of Individualism

 The intensification of commerce


and trade gradually replaced
barter with the production of
money and banking system.
Soon banking system provided
merchants and capitalists the
leverage to extend credit and
transactions.
 As regards trade and commerce

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