History of Social Sciences and Philosophy

Origins of Social Sciences

• Social sciences trace back to ancient philosophy, integrating various disciplines like Mathematics, history, poetry, and politics.
• The distinction between “scientific” disciplines and the humanities emerged with advances in mathematical proof.

The Enlightenment Era

• The Age of Enlightenment revolutionized natural philosophy, reshaping the notion of what constituted science.
• Moral philosophy influenced the emergence of social sciences, shaped by significant events like the Industrial Revolution and French Revolution.
• Systematic knowledge relating to social improvement began to form the basis of social sciences.

Key Publications of the 18th Century

• Landmark texts emerged around 1760, including Hobbes' Leviathan, Locke’s Two Treatises on Government, Vico’s New Science, and Montesquieu's Spirit of Laws.
• A revival of interest in social science gained momentum in the mid-18th century, coinciding with the rise of capitalism in Western and Northern Europe.

Societal Changes and Social Reform

• The latter half of the 18th century experienced urbanization and population growth, leading to social issues like slums and alcoholism, prompting calls for social reform.
• This period also saw an increase in scientifically oriented works addressing social issues.

Foundational Figures in Sociology

• Auguste Comte (1798–1853) coined the term “sociology” and systematized the principles of social sciences, establishing a framework for the discipline.
• Montesquieu and Voltaire contributed significantly to political theory and historical analysis.

19th Century Advances

• Social science gained established credibility across Europe at the start of the 19th century, with increased attention to its development.
• Emile Durkheim and other sociologists were directly influenced by Comte, who had made substantial contributions to the field.
• Karl Marx formulated the first general theory of social science.

20th Century Developments

• The evolution of social sciences mirrored the development patterns of older natural sciences.
• Social sciences became highly institutionalized, establishing itself as a significant area of research.
• Confusion around the boundaries and definitions of social science persists, as noted by Lawrence A. Kempton.

Interdisciplinary Connections

• History aligns with humanities, economics shares connections with Mathematics, anthropology, and psychology link with biology, while geography integrates with physical science.
• Initially involving non-specialists, social science has evolved into a field for academic specialists.

Maturity of Social Sciences

• In the discipline's advanced stage, methodological disputes have diminished, allowing for collaboration on theoretical propositions that enhance overall progress.

Explore the origins of social sciences rooted in ancient philosophy and the evolution of disciplines through history. This quiz covers the interplay between mathematics, humanities, and the impact of the Enlightenment on natural philosophy. Test your knowledge of how these fields have developed over time.