Sociology › Section A · An introduction to sociology › Topic A.2
The history of sociology
People have puzzled over society for thousands of years, but sociology as a separate science is less than two centuries old. Knowing why it appeared when it did, and who built it, explains the debates that still run through the field today.
In this topic
- Thinking about society before sociology
- Why the 19th century?
- Auguste Comte and positivism
- Harriet Martineau
- Marx and Spencer: two opposite responses
- Émile Durkheim: sociology as a discipline
- Max Weber and the antipositivists
- Worked example: tracing the reasons for a new science
- Sociology in the United States
- Worked example: reading Du Bois's Philadelphia study
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
This topic is part of Wuanberri Pro. Checking your access…