Who’s Who of Sociology

Auguste Comte often credited with being the founder of sociology because he was the first to suggest that the scientific method be applied to the study of the social world Focused on positivism- the application of the scientific approach to the social world

Herbert Spencer believed that societies evolve from barbarian to civilized forms He was the first to use the expression “ the survival of the fittest ” –social evolution depended on the survival of the most capable and intelligent and the extinction of the less capable. His views became known as social Darwinism

Karl Marx believed that social development grew out of conflict between social classes; under capitalism, this conflict was between the bourgeoisie-those who own the means to produce wealth- and the proletariat-the mass of workers. His work is associated with the conflict perspective

Emile Durkheim responsible for getting sociology recognized as a separate discipline. He was interested in studying how social forces shape individual behavior Focused on social integration-the degree to which people are tied to their social groups

Max Weber Argued individuals always interpret the meaning of their own behavior and act according to these interpretations –Sociologist must find out how people feel or think about their own behavior Sociologists should adopt a method Verstehen- empathetic understanding of their subject –Putting themselves mentally in the position of their subject

Jane Addams One of the founders of US sociology and social work Hull House- center for social reform and research in Chicago Most activists at Hull House were women Organize citizens and lobby political leaders to eliminate social problems

W.E.B. DuBois Focused research on racial problems Believed knowledge was the way to combat prejudice Founded the Niagra Movement and helped create the NAACP