Sociology with other Social Sciences

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIOLOGY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE

Sociology and political science are so closely and deeply related to each other that one becomes meaningless without the other. According to Morris Ginsberg, “Historically, Sociology has its main roots in politics and philosophy of history”. The state, which is the centre of political science in its early stage, was more of a social than a political institution.

Similarities:

These two social sciences are very common in certain spheres. Let us highlight some of their similarities:

  1. Sociology refers to the study of all aspects of society whereas; Political science mainly deals with political theory and Government Administration alone.

  2. Sociology stresses interrelationship between social institutions including Government whereas, political science deals mainly with the Government.

  3. A sociologist while studying the structure and functioning of groups cannot ignore the political organizations, pressure groups and political institutions both at the lower and higher levels whereas, Political Science is the study of the state whereas civics studies citizenship.

  4. Sociology is the fundamental social science. Political science, on the other hand, is concerned with the political life of a man, which is one part of his total life.

  5. Sociology is also to depend on political science for its conclusions. The special study of the political life of the society is indispensable for the complete study of society as a whole.

  6. Sociology is the science of society whereas political science is mainly concerned with the state and government. Political science is a branch of sociology, which deals with the principles of organization and government of human society.

Thus Political Science and Sociology are two highly related and interdependent social sciences. Both are related but distinct disciplines. Each has its own scope and methodology and yet each is related to the other. Both Sociology and Political Science supplement each other.

Differences:

In-spite of the above relationship, both sociology and political science are however different from each other in certain respects.

  1. Sociology is the science of society whereas political science is the science of state and government.

  2. Sociology studies all kinds of a society organized and unorganized while political science studies politically organized society.

  3. The scope of sociology is found wider than the scope of political science.

  4. Sociology studies man as fundamentally a social animal whereas political science studies man as a political animal.

  5. Sociology is the general science and is relatively younger but political science is special and is older than sociology.

  6. The approach of sociology is different from that of political science.

Despite the similarities and dissimilarities between the two disciplines sociology and political science, they have a close relationship. Political sociology thus becomes popular in the modern period.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIOLOGY AND ECONOMICS

Sociology and economics as social sciences have close relations. The relationship between the two is so close that one is often treated as the branch of the other. Likewise, let’s discuss how both are mutually related.

Similarities:

  1. The relationship of sociology with economics is very close, intimate and personal. Likewise, social relationships are also affected by economic relationships. Economic activities to a great extent are social activities. Hence both are mutually related.

  2. Economics takes the help of Sociology. For its own comprehension economics takes the help of sociology and depends on it. Economics is a part of Sociology hence without help from sociology economics can’t understand itself completely.

  3. Economic welfare is a part of social welfare. For the solution of different economic problems such as inflation, poverty, unemployment etc. economists take the help of sociology and take into account the social events of that particular time. At the same time society controls the economic activities of man.

  4. Some economists also consider economic change as an aspect of social change. Economics draws its generalization based on the data provided by Sociology. Thus economics cannot go far or develop without the help of Sociology.

  5. Sociology also takes help from economics. Economics greatly enriches sociological knowledge. An economic factor greatly influences each and every aspect of social life. Economics is a part of sociology hence without the help of economics we can’t understand sociology properly.

  6. Economic factors play a very important role in every aspect of our social life that is why Sociologists are concerned with economic institutions.

Thus both economics and sociology are closely related to each other. Economic welfare is considered a part of social welfare. It is not possible to study economic welfare without a piece of adequate knowledge about social laws. Economics seeks the help of Sociology in this connection.

Differences:

  1. Sociology is a science of society and social relationships whereas economics is a science of wealth.

  2. Sociology is a much younger science that has a very recent origin whereas economics is comparatively old.

  3. Sociology is an abstract science whereas economics is concrete in nature.

  4. Sociology is a general social science whereas economics is a special social science.

  5. Sociology is concerned with the social activities of man whereas economics is concerned with the economic activities of man.

  6. Society is studied as a unit of study in Sociology whereas man is taken as a unit of study in economics.

  7. Both Sociology and economics differ from each other in respect of the methods and techniques they use for their study.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY

Sociology and anthropology are closely related to one another. Sociology depends on anthropology and anthropology also depends on sociology in various respects.

Sociology

Sociology is the study of human behaviour or group or interaction among human beings. It seeks to understand the nature and purpose of human association. Sociology comes from the Greek word “socious’’ means society and the Latin word ‘’logos” means the study of science. So sociology means “scientific study of society”.

Anthropology

Like sociology, anthropology is general science. Anthropology comes from Greek “Anthrop” means human and Latin “logos’’ means study or science. So anthropology means “scientific study of man”.

Similarities:

  1. On the basis of school: Sociology and anthropology both are included in a social science school.

  2. On the basis of method: Sociology use participants, case study, observation, survey and experiment. On the other hand anthropology usage participant, observation to find the problem.

  3. On the basis of growth: Anthropology studies primitive man in a pre-literate society whereas sociology studies man in modern complex societies. Both benefit one another.

  4. On the basis of scopes: Anthropology is the scientific study of man. Sociology is the scientific study of human behaviour. So their scope is the same.

  5. On the basis of nature: Sociology and anthropology both are science, so their nature is the same.

Seeing such similarities Hobel says “sociology and anthropology towards the pure understanding and the part.”

Differences:

There is also some difference between anthropology and sociology. Those are given below:

  1. Sociology is a science of society whereas anthropology is a science of man and his behaviour.

  2. The scope of Sociology is very wide whereas the scope of Anthropology is very limited.

  3. Sociology studies society as a whole whereas anthropology studies man as a part of society

  4. Sociology studies civilizations that are vast and dynamic on the other hand Anthropology studies cultures which are simple and primitive.

  5. Sociology studies modern, civilized and complex societies whereas Anthropology studies ancient and pre-literate societies.

  6. Sociology is concerned with social planning whereas anthropology is not concerned with social planning. On the basis of social planning, sociology makes a suggestion for the future but anthropology does not make any suggestion for the future.

  7. In the words of Kluckhon, “The Sociological attitude has tended towards the Practical and Present, the anthropological towards pure understanding of the past.”

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIOLOGY AND HISTORY

As a mother of social sciences, sociology has a close and intimate relationship with all other social sciences. It has a close relationship with history because present society bears symbols of the past. The relationship between the two is so close and intimate that scholars like G. Von Bulow have refused to acknowledge sociology as a science distinct from history.

Similarities:

  1. Both sociology and history study the same human society.

  2. Both sociology and history are social science disciplines.

  3. Sociology and history both are concerned with human activities and events.

  4. History helps and enriches Sociology. History is the storehouse of knowledge from which Sociology gained a lot. History provides materials sociologists use. History is a record of past social matters, social customs and information about different stages of life. Sociology uses this information.

  5. Similarly, Sociology also provides help to history and enriches it. A historian greatly benefited from the research conducted by Sociologists. Historians now study caste, class and family by using sociological data. Sociology provides the background for the study of history.

  6. Now history is being studied from a Sociological angle. Every historical event has a social cause or social background. To understand that historical event history need help from Sociology and Sociology helps history in this respect. Sociology provides facts on which historians rely.

  7. Apart from philosophy today the historian is considerably dependent upon sociological concepts and narrations. Modern historiography and modern sociology have been influenced by each other.

Thus history and Sociology are mutually dependent on each other. History is now being studied from a Sociological angle and Sociology is also now studied from a historical point of view. Historical sociology now became a new branch of Sociology that depends on history. Similarly, Sociological history is another specialized subject based on both the Sciences.

Differences:

The two social sciences, History and Sociology are different. The points of difference between the two may be noted.

  1. Sociology is a science of society and is concerned with the present society. But history deals with past events and studies the past society.

  2. Sociology is a modern or new subject whereas history is an older social science.

  3. Sociology is abstract whereas history is concrete in nature.

  4. The scope of Sociology is very wide whereas the scope of history is limited. Sociology includes history within its scope.

  5. Sociology is an analytical science whereas history is a descriptive science.

  6. The attitude of sociology and history differ from each other. Sociology studies a particular event as a social phenomenon whereas history studies a particular event in its entirety.

  7. Sociology is a general science whereas history is a special science.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY

Sociology is a science of society. Hence it is closely related to other social sciences and so also with psychology. Sociology and Psychology are very closely interlinked, interrelated and interdependent. The relationship between the two is so close and intimate that Psychologists like Karl Pearson refuse to accept both as a special science. Both depend on each other for their own comprehension. Their relationship will be clear if we analyze their interrelationship and mutual dependency.

Similarities:

  1. Both sociology and psychology deal with human beings.

  2. Sociology gives special aid to psychology similarly psychology gives special aid to sociology.

  3. Social psychology which is an important branch of psychology has a very close relationship with sociology in so far as the study of human nature and behaviour is concerned.

  4. Both sociology and psychology receive help hence without help from one another it can’t be comprehended itself fully and properly. For instance, each and every social problem and social phenomenon must have a psychological basis for the solution of which sociology requires help from psychology. A new branch of knowledge has developed with the combination of sociology and psychology which is known as social psychology.

  5. Similarly, psychology depends on Sociology to comprehend itself fully. Psychology also requires help from sociology in many cases. As the human mind and personality are being influenced by social environment, culture, customs and traditions hence psychology takes help from Sociology to understand this.

  6. Research in Sociology richly contributes to psychology. Contributions and theories of many Sociologists also are of great help to Psychologists.

Thus, Sociology and Psychology are mutually dependent on each other. One can’t comprehend itself without help from others. Besides, there are some common areas of study such as social disorganization, public opinion etc. which are being studied by both Sociologists and Psychologists. Social Psychology a branch of Psychology is developed with the combination of the two. Social Psychology is the science of the behaviour of individuals in society.

Differences:

However, in spite of the mutual relationship and dependence both the sciences differ from each other in the following ways.

  1. Sociology is a science of society but Psychology is a science of mind.

  2. The methods used by sociology and psychology are not identical. Both disciplines, therefore, differ from each other in respect of methods.

  3. The scope of Sociology is wide whereas the scope of Psychology is limited.

  4. Society is the unit of study in sociology but the individual is the unit of study in the case of Psychology.

  5. Sociology studies social processes whereas Psychology studies mental processes.

  6. Sociology studies and analyzes human behaviour from a Sociological angle whereas psychology studies and analyses human behaviour from a psychological angle.

  7. There is a difference in the subject matter of psychology and sociology. From the viewpoint of sociology is humanistic because of the study of the mental processes of man. The viewpoint of sociology is socially instated of humanistic because of the study of the whole society. in psychology behaviour of man is tried to understand on the basis of humanistic factors while in sociology on the basis of social factors.

  8. The difference in study methods of these two subjects is also found. In psychology, mainly psychological testing or examination and experimental method are used especially. In sociology, the human life study method, historical method, structural-functional method, sociometry, statistical methods, etc., are used mainly, though practical methods are also used but to a little extend.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY

Sociology has its closest relationship with philosophy. Before the study of a subject is born and systematized it is essential that it must have some philosophy. Unless there is some philosophy, the subject cannot be born. Thus, their relationship is quite obvious that the philosophies of great sociologists have always influenced society and the course of thinking.

Similarities:

  1. Philosophy of Sociology: Any science has a philosophy of its own in the sense it is commit­ted to acquire knowledge relevant to its field in its own legitimate ways. Sociology is ever vigilant in its examination of the methods, concepts and arguments. This philosophical scrutiny is more ur­gently felt in sociology than in the natural sciences because of the very nature of sociology.

  2. Sociology entertains Philosophical Thoughts: More than any other social science, socio­logy raises to a greater extent philosophical problems in its studies. Hence a sociologist at studies is bound to consider the philosophical issues which are always in the background of sociological problem only a sociological theory but also a “Philosophical world view” and a “revolutionary doctrine”.

  3. The intimate relationship between Sociology and Social Philosophy: Social Philosophy seems to be the meeting point of sociology and philosophy. The epistemological aspect is concerned with the question of knowledge; the axiological aspect deals with the questions of value. Its ontological function is to deal with the concept of social life whereas eiteriological function is to discuss principles of social sciences.

It is believed that since social philosophy entirely deals with society, therefore, it has a very close relationship with sociology and that is very much true as well.

Differences:

The differences between sociology and philosophy are as follows:

  1. As compared to philosophy, sociology is a new science.

  2. The study area of sociology is extensive whereas that of philosophy is limited.

  3. Sociology is a normal social science whereas philosophy is a special social science.

  4. Sociology is the study of human society whereas philosophy is the study of fundamentals for all aspects of life.

  5. Philosophy is primarily an attempt to understand reality in its totality whereas the sociologist explains society in terms of acts observed in society and explanation he gives to total reality.

  6. The scope of philosophy is limited and sociology is very wide and comprehensive.

  7. Philosophical is largely theoretical and quite often seen utopian but sociology is practical and a sociologist is faced with hard realities of life.

References

The Relationship of Sociology with Other Social Sciences ~ Link


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