Harriett Martineau can be considered the first sociologist, she not only influenced Marx’s work on the political economy, but brought positivism to the English speaking world. Martineau was the first to collect data through observation, and speak for and to the people.
Martineau 's reflections on Society in America, are prime examples of her sociological methods. Her ideas in this field were set out in her book How to Observe Morals and Manners. She believed some very general social laws influence the life of any society. Martineau’s main contribution to sociology was her claim that when studying society, one has to focus on all aspects of it. She emphasized the importance of examining political, religious, and social institutions. Martineau believed that by studying society in this way, one could infer why inequality existed. She also was the first to create a systematic method of qualitative data; through observation. Using qualitative data is tremendously important because one is able to examine complex questions that can be difficult with quantitative methods, it also allows for more in-depth examination of a subject.
Harriett Martineau also made economic and social ideas and options understandable to the ordinary people. Harriet had the gift of explaining difficult ideas. She wanted people specifically the working class to be aware of their situation, to gain consciousness, by educating them through her writings, as explained through this quote, “The other method by
Sociology came into existence in the nineteenth century, a fairly new principle than other social sciences. Auguste Comte, a French philosopher, used the term sociology to study society in an approach different from other fields, and that it can be studied systematically. Its main focus is to study social structures by analyzing, evaluating, and critiquing the social aspects of society (Dillon 2014:12-13; 17). Classical sociological theories were mainly referring to works of Auguste Comte, Karl Marx, Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and some other more. The works of these classical sociological theorists gave ideas and inspirations to the modern and post-modern theorists in different parts of the world. One sociological theory is structural functionalism, a macro-level analysis. Emile Durkheim and Robert Merton are both functional theorists, classical and contemporary respectively. Being both functionalists, similarities can be observed in the theories that they have developed such as using the concept of anomie, a condition where there is absence of norms; there are some differences in their use. Additionally, Merton criticized most beliefs that classical structural functionalism had established.
Durkheim and Max Weber, Marx is seen as one of the three founders of the social sciences.
Sociology is the study which seeks to understand society, social life and to understand ourselves, humans, as part of that social world [Giddens, A, 2006, p.2]. The term ‘sociology’ was developed by Auguste Comte, a French philosopher, in 1838. Comte believed that scientific facts are able to explain the social world. Sociologists, such as Comte, study issues including: education, inequality and religion. Comte believed that sociologists play crucial roles in guiding society. In the 18th century the ‘Enlightenment’, which was a philosophical movement that stressed human reasoning over bling faith and obedience. At the time it was different to the religious and political order, as it encouraged a ‘scientific’ was of thinking. Political
Through an always persevering attitude and be a hard worker no matter what she was motivated to make a change, a change so that no one was the outcast, but instead all even and all a wonderful creation each one a little different from the other. With Harriet as a guide to not repeat history we can soar to new heights and only become greater than the past, because overall Harriet was a creative, intelligent, bright young lady who took action to new levels, and some say that Harriet along with others are the reason we stand today as a nation of freedom and
Auguste Comte played a role in the development of society. He is considered the founder of sociology by his theory that societies contain social statics and social dynamics. He unlocked secrets of society. He was praised for his advocacy of sociology and insights. Harriet Martineau received little recognition in the field of sociology for many years due to the fact that she was a woman in a make-dominated discipline and society.
There was a time when the study of society was not considered a science. Throughout the years many pioneers began the study of society. These men and women were known as the pioneers of sociology. They were extraordinary people who looked at society in different ways. One of the most recognized pioneers is Charles Wright Mills or as most people know him, C. Wright Mills.
During my reading and researching each sociologist, I have noticed that all of them have excellent view points in their theories. It was really hard to identify with just one sociologist as the best. Aguste Comte, was the founder of sociology and had three theories: theological, metaphysical and positive, which based around positivism towards social and progression. Harriet, was determined to have equality not only for blacks but women too. She also made sure never to get married but hold the Mrs. in front of her name so she could receive the respect she deserved during that era. Karl Marx, he was a believer such as myself, that there are people that are meant to be owners and there are people that are meant to be the owner’s workers. Not say that cannot change, but, some people are comfortable with just making it. He also believed the separation of classes would only disappear when, proletariat revolt, which would
There are many classical sociologists in the world with many different theories and key elements within the sociological imagination. James Fulcher and John Scott (p.21, 2011) explain why theories of sociologists in past time and todays modern so-ciety are so important and why they can still be relevant today, “theory is or should be an attempt to describe and explain the real world, it is impossible to know any-thing about the real world without drawing on some kind of theoretical ideas.” Per-ceptions of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber (who can also be known as the ‘holy trinity’ of the three founding fathers) theories have been interpreted for hundreds of years, leading to them having a remarkable impact in history and to-day’s
C. Wright Mills' The Sociological Imagination brings forth a way of thinking where in order to understand the biography of a distinct individual or the overall history of society, the two entities must be understood as one reciprocal relationship. He states that one cannot be understand without the other, and it is a thought that emphasizes how interlaced and dependent an individual is of society, and a society is of the individuals that compose it. As a result, readers are invited in moments of self-evaluation of their own respective lives, their roles in society, and how society has shaped them, through a new way of thinking.
Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Emile Durkheim are widely recognized as the trinity of sociological theory. While these three sociologists were trailblazing social theorists who enhanced the study of human behavior and its relationship to social institutions, other, more contemporary scholars were just as innovative - one of those scholars being W. E. B. Du Bois.
Harriet Martineau Harriet Martineau is known as the First Woman Sociologist and author that overcame many obstacles including severe health issues. She studied and wrote about many things such as social practices, economics, social class, religion, suicide, government and women’s rights. One of her many accomplishments was translating “The Father of Sociology,” Auguste Comte’s writings from French to English in 1853 and thereby introduced sociology to English speaking scholars (Introduction to Sociology 11). Harriet Martineau paved the way in sociology, not only for woman, but for all society today. Harriet Martineau was born on June 12, 1802 in Norwhich, England.
"Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both. "(Mills, C. Wright. The Sociological Imagination). As a character of a solitary personality and innovative ideas, Mills was a great sociologist. His studies in the areas of inequality in society, and the relationship between itself and the individual left a mark in today's sociological studies.
Harriet first got a large reading public when she popularized classical economics with a series of anecdotes and short stories. She especially focused on the ideas of Thomas Robert Malthus and David Ricardo: Illustrations of Political Economy, 25 vol. (1832-34), Poor Laws and Paupers Illustraed, 10 vol. (1833-34), and Illustrations of Taxation, 5 vol. (1834). After she visited the United States she wrote Society in America (1837), which is her most popular writing used amongst sociologists today, and
The theoretical works of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber still influence sociological theory. Though their works are decades old they still are a major part of what sociology is today. Though their theories can seem very different, there are some similarities. To become a great sociologist one most learn and understands how to use all sociological perspectives. To do this one must understand and use the different theoretical perspectives created by Marx, Durkheim, and Weber.
The sociological imagination raises three core questions. Firstly, what is the structure of the society being studied? Secondly, what relevance does its context in history have? And thirdly, how does it influence and shape those within it? (Mills, 1959: 6-7). The consideration of these questions enables the greatest understanding of the relationship between society and an individual’s position and circumstance, and is what makes the concept sociological.