Why Sociology?

Sociology was initiated with the intention of bringing about planned change by Auguste Comte; by planning he meant taking steps to bring stability and harmony to an otherwise disturbed French society on the basis of general laws arrived at by scientific methods. Further, Comte’s was a positivistic orientation of knowledge, entirely according to the principles followed by the disciplines like Physics. His concept of Sociology, to put it shortly, was that of creating a “mother of all sciences”. Interestingly, famous Italian mathematician Henry Poincare remarks that “all sociologists are anti-social”. Where does we stand today in lieu of these two contradictory remarks?

Sociology has moved a long way from this original plan of Comte. Today we no longer talk about the grand dream of Comte; though Durkheim, the spiritual heir of Comte too conceived Sociology in positivistic terms, his emphasis on explaining all social phenomenon in terms of other social phenomenon (i.e., social facts) too is no longer accepted without any reservation. Sociology as discipline of ordering social life from the higher vantage point of those indulging in social sciences has strayed far away in to the understanding of social relationships from the actors’ viewpoint. It no longer pretends to understand society in rarefied terms; rather, the concepts are utilised to understand the social interaction as perceived by those who are involved in the interaction process.

Sociology, for this reason, has not ceased to be a science. On the contrary, it has grown in to a discipline rich with insights. These insights have demolished many myths about the society. As R K Merton and more recently Andre Betellie has shown, Sociology is based on common sense understanding of society but is much more than common sense. It provides us an in depth view of how social actors consciously manipulate their situational realities rather than being mere passive spectators, receiving what is given to their structural position. Sociology is not just the study of caste and kinship; it is the study of how social institutions are internalised and reappropriated by the persons living that reality. People continuously construct their social world. This construction constrains their activities but does not bind them in eternal values and norms. Every single actor is consciously striving to be in a better position rather than meekly accepting her fate. It is in this background that Norbert Elias’ definition of sociology as myth buster makes sense. Hence Poincare is right.

Sociology is a humanistic discipline. Sociological insights do not bind us but liberates us from our prejudices; it also forces us to see the limits of various ideological standpoints and frees us from utopian fetters. Day to day experiences enriches us and helps us to overcome the existential angst, to respond to our fellow humans’ distress and despair. Sociology documents the privileges of power but at the same instance also shows ways for reining in this power for the sake of humanity.

Sociology is a humanistic discipline but with a methodology that is logical, empirical and based on theories that provides the framework for analysis. In short, it is a social science. In this context, it won’t be irrelevant to note that sociology has yielded rich results whenever it has been studied in a systematic manner: this is true of both the neophytes and scholars. Academics like Anthony Giddens, the Director of London School of Economics and Guru of former British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair, who was instrumental in his electoral success through his New Labour Policy, shows the integration of theory and practical approaches. Similarly, the success achieved by the students of physical and natural sciences when they opt for sociology as an optional subject in the civil services examinations is a case in point.