Meaning of sociology :

The word sociology is made up of the Latin word “Socius” and the Greek word “Logos”. Its literal meaning is “science of society” or “study of society“. However, different sociologists have interpreted sociology in different ways, they have interpreted it as the study of society as a whole, social relations, social interrelationships or social groups, etc. To understand the meaning of sociology scientific, understanding of both the words “society” and “science” is necessary.

Meaning of society :

> According to Richard LaPiere, “Society is not the name of a group of human beings, but is called the complex pattern of forms of interactions that arise among them and among them.”

> According to Reuter, “Society is an abstract word which understands the complex mutual relationships found among the members of a group and between those members.”

In short, society reflects the social relations of human beings.

Meaning of Science :

> According to John Frank Cuber, “Science is the method of discovering the commonalities of the world through the process of observation and re-observation; The results of which are expressed in the form of principles and are systematized and organized in the field of knowledge.

Science is the systematic study of any subject.

After understanding the meanings of society and science, if we explain sociology, then it can be said that “Sociology is that branch of modern science in which the interrelationships of society are studied systematically, structured and systematically.”

Definition of sociology :

It is difficult to give any one universally accepted definition of sociology. Different scholars have given its definition from different perspectives. We can divide the definitions given by sociologists into the following five major categories –

1. Sociology is the study of society

According to the views of many scholars (Odum, Ward, Gisbert, Giddings etc.), sociology is the name of the study of society or the science of society. This has also been considered the viewpoint of most of the early social scientists who have emphasized on studying the society as a whole i.e. it as a complete unit.

> According to Odum, “Sociology is the science that studies society.”

> According to Ward, “Sociology is the science of society.”

> According to Gisbert, “Sociology is generally defined as the science of society.”

> According to Giddings, “Sociology is equally a systematic description and explanation of society.”

2. Sociology is the study of social relations

Most scholars (McIver and Page, Kuber, Rose, Simmel, Green etc.) have defined sociology as the systematic study of social relations. By social relations we mean the relations between two or more persons who are aware of each other and do some work for each other. It is not necessary that these relationships are always cordial and cooperative; they can also be conflictual or stressful. Sociologists study both types of relationships. Social relationships occur in contexts where two or more individuals or groups participate in interaction.

Social relations can be of three types- the first, between the person & the person, the second, between the person & the group and the third, between one group & the second group. The relationship between husband and wife, siblings, father-son is the first type of examples. Students’ relationship with the teacher is an example of the second category. One team’s relationship with another team or one political party with another is a third-class example.

> According to MacIver and Page, “Sociology is about social relationships, we call this network of relationships ‘society’.”

> According to Cuber, “Sociology can be defined as the framework of scientific knowledge of human relations.”

> According to Rose, “Sociology is the science of human relations.”

> According to Simmel, “Sociology is the science of the forms of human interactions.”

> According to Green, “Sociology is the science that coordinates man in the form of all his social relations and draws general inferences.”

3. Sociology is a study of social life, events, behavior and actions

Sociology is a science that studies social life, events, behavior of individuals, their actions and various events in the society. Sociologists try to understand human social behavior by examining social system, social institutions and various aspects of society. Thus, sociology provides a broad and endocardial understanding of social life. Scholars like Ogburn and Nimkoff, Bennett and Tumin, Kimball Young and Sorokin have interpreted social life, individuals’ behavior and their actions and social events.

> According to ogburn and nimkoff, “Sociology is a scientific study of social life.”

> According to Vastu and Tumin, “Sociology is the science of social life structures and works.”

> According to Young, “Sociology studies the behavior of humans in groups.”

> According to Sorokin, “Sociology is a general science of general forms, types and various types of inter-terms of socio-cultural events.”

It is clear from the above interpretation that sociology is different from other social sciences (such as political science, economics, psychology, anthropology, etc.) due to the science of society. It especially studies social life, and its focus on social behavior and social work distinguishes the subject from other social sciences. Social behavior refers to the behavior that is done keeping in mind the behavior and expected responses of other individuals.

4. Sociology is the study of social groups

The person does not remain alone in the society but lives with other people. In fact, a person’s life is an organized life because of being a member of various social groups. Social groups are a collection of individuals that are exposed to each other, sharing some shared interests or goals, and affecting each other. Social groups provide a sense of sociality, support and identity to the individual. They also provide personal development and socialization facilities. Family, friends, work groups, religious groups and community groups are some common social groups in which individuals participate. These groups provide meaning and purpose to the person in their lives and contribute to their overall welfare.

> According to Harrry M. Johnson, “Sociology is the science of social groups, their internal forms or organizations, the processes that maintains or converts that organization and the science that is studying the relationships found between groups.”

According to the definition of Johnson, sociology is a study of social groups, their organizations and related processes. When two or more individuals interact with each other to achieve a goal or purpose, social relations are formed between them. Then this collection of individuals can be called group. Therefore, a group can have three elements: first, a collection of two or more individuals, second, have a direct or indirect relationship and third, the basis of their actions to be a common interest or purpose.

5. Sociology is a study of interactions

Human is a social creature, who depends on others to meet his needs. Due to this dependence, mutual relations, cooperation and interaction between people become natural. In sociology, these social functions and interactions of individuals are studied. Not all actions are social. Social actions are those that have some meaning, so that other people can understand them. They are influenced by social rules and are determined by society or group.

> According to Weher, “Sociology is a science that tries to express the disinterested meaning of social action to discuss with its activity and results.”

> According to Gillin and Gillin, “Sociology can be called the study of the interactions arising as a result of living beings in detail in contact with each other.”

> According to Ginsberg, “Sociology is a study of human interactions, interrelations, conditions and consequences.”

> According to Fair Child’s statement, “Sociology is a study of human situation in relations towards humans and each other.”

> According to Sorokin, “The first sociology studies relations and correlations from different social classes-(economic-religious; family moral; economic dynamics and political event cycles or other relationships). Relationship between other social and anti -social (geographical, animal classical etc.) events; The third is the study of the common symptoms of all classes of social events, which are all found in general. ”

Sociology is a specific science that conducts objective, subtle and systematic studies of society and its various aspects. Like economics, political science, criminal science and psychology, sociology has been established as a social and independent science. The father of sociology is August Comte, who first recognized it as an independent science in 1838. However, since this science studies various aspects of society, it originated with the creation of society. But due to systematic thinking and lack of study, it was later recognized. Sociology studies the structure, functioning and change of society. It investigates topics like social problems, social justice, social stratification and social change. Knowledge of sociology helps us understand society, resolve social issues and create a more just and equal society.

Since Comte coined the word ‘Sociology’ by mixing words of two different languages. For this reason, scholars like Robert Bierstedt and John Stuart Mill objected to this. Robert Bierstedt even said that “Sociology is an illegitimate child of two languages.” At the end of the 19th century, Herbert Spencer conducted a systematic study of the society and named his book ‘Sociology’. In this way, Herbert Spencer approved the relevance of this new scripture.