Knowra History of sociology History of sociology The history of sociology traces how the systematic study of society emerged and developed through changing theories, institutions, thinkers, and social conditions.
Enlightenment : An intellectual movement emphasizing reason, criticism of authority, and the possibility of social progress. Its confidence in systematic inquiry helped make society seem open to rational study.
Karl Marx : A German philosopher and political economist who analyzed capitalism, class conflict, and historical change. His critique of capitalism shaped sociology’s study of inequality and power.
Social facts : Durkheim’s term for ways of acting, thinking, and feeling that exist outside individuals and exert social constraint. They exemplify Durkheim’s claim that society can be studied as a reality in its own right.
American Sociological Association : A professional organization founded in 1905 to advance sociology in the United States. Its formation marks sociology’s consolidation as a profession and organized research community.
Interpretive sociology : An approach that explains social life by interpreting the meanings people give to their actions. It contrasts with positivist ambitions to explain society through general empirical laws.
French Revolution : The political upheaval in France from 1789 that ended the monarchy and reshaped European politics. Its rapid disruption of institutions sharpened questions about social order and change.
Émile Durkheim : A French sociologist who established sociology as an academic discipline and studied social facts and solidarity. His methods and institutional work helped secure sociology’s place in universities.
Class conflict : Struggle between social classes over resources, power, and the organization of economic life. Marx made conflict between classes a central engine of historical change.
Chicago School (sociology) : A group of sociologists associated with the University of Chicago who studied urban life and social change. Its field studies made the rapidly changing city a major site of sociological research.
Conflict theory : A family of theories that explains social arrangements through competition, domination, and unequal power. It disputes functionalist accounts that emphasize cohesion and the contributions of institutions.
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