Section Overview
This section of Fundamentals of Sociology provides a comprehensive overview of the field’s development, beginning with its origins in the Age of Enlightenment and the significant contributions of philosophers such as John Locke, Voltaire, Immanuel Kant, and Thomas Hobbes. The roles of Auguste Comte, Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Georg Simmel in shaping sociology as a distinct discipline are examined, along with their seminal theories and insights. Additionally, this section discusses the diverse research methods used in sociology, including both quantitative and qualitative approaches, and highlights its interdisciplinary nature as it incorporates concepts from other fields like psychology, anthropology, economics, and political science. The study of contemporary sociological themes, including social inequality, gender roles, race and ethnicity, and social change, is also explored, providing insights into the critical role of sociology in understanding and interpreting societal dynamics.
Reading Assignment for Section 1.2
Read the following subsection from our online textbook: Section 1.2: History of Sociology.
What You Will Learn
In this section, you will delve into the rich history of sociology and learn about the key figures and ideas that have shaped the field. You’ll analyze the contributions of influential sociological theorists such as Durkheim, Marx, Weber, and Simmel. Additionally, you’ll distinguish between quantitative and qualitative research methods used in sociology and understand how sociology draws from other disciplines like psychology, anthropology, economics, and political science. Finally, you’ll explore contemporary sociological themes, including social inequality, gender roles, race and ethnicity, and social change.
Student Learning Outcomes for Section 1.2
- SLO 1: Students will identify key figures and ideas that shaped the development of sociology.
- SLO 2: Students will analyze contributions from key sociological theorists like Durkheim, Marx, Weber, and Simmel.
- SLO 3: Students will distinguish between quantitative and qualitative research methods in sociology.
- SLO 4: Students will understand how sociology draws concepts from psychology, anthropology, economics, and political science.
- SLO 5: Students will explore contemporary sociological themes like social inequality, gender roles, race and ethnicity, and social change.
Modification History File Created: 05/07/2023 Last Modified: 06/26/2023
This work is licensed under an Open Educational Resource-Quality Master Source (OER-QMS) License.
