Introduction to Social Sciences

Areas of Study

• Natural Sciences include Physical, Biological, and Earth Sciences, focusing on objective, empirical methods to explore laws governing the universe.
• Humanities study human conditions and experiences, offering insights into social existence and cultural history.
• Social Sciences analyze individual and societal behaviors, employing scientific methods to interpret social phenomena, often more systematically than Humanities.

Disciplines of Social Sciences

• Anthropology: Study of humans and societies across time, divided into:
  • Physical Anthropology: Examines human evolution and diversity.
  • Cultural Anthropology: Focuses on human cultures and their development.
• Psychology: Explores cognitive and behavioral aspects of individuals in various contexts, with branches like:
  • Educational Psychology: Studies learning methods and cognitive development in educational settings.
  • Behavioral Psychology: Investigates motivation and behavior modification.
  • Developmental Psychology: Examines growth and changes throughout the human lifespan.
• Demography: Analyzes human population dynamics, including size, composition, growth, and distribution.
• Sociology: Systematically studies society, focusing on individual interactions, cultural groups, and societal systems.

Historical Influences on Social Science

• The Enlightenment combined reason and observation, advocating for theories derived from empirical investigations.
• Philosophers debated human nature and societal progress, questioning traditional views, stimulating scientific methods for societal improvements.

Key Figures in Sociology

• Auguste Comte: Coined "sociology"; proposed applying natural science methods to social study.
• Émile Durkheim: Pioneered empirical studies in sociology, especially on social cohesion and suicide.
• Karl Marx: Analyzed class conflicts as engines of societal change, emphasizing exploitation in capitalism.
• Max Weber: Explored rationalization's impact on society, stressing the role of ideas in social change.

Key Figures in Anthropology

• Franz Boas: Advocate for cultural relativism; championed understanding cultures without superiority biases.

Key Figures in Demography

• Thomas Robert Malthus: Warned about population growth exceeding food supply, risking famine.
• John Graunt: Founder of demography; laid groundwork for modern statistical methods.

Key Figures in Economics

• Adam Smith: Established economics as a field; introduced laissez-faire doctrine in "The Wealth of Nations."

Key Figures in Geography

• Eratosthenes: First to use "geography," calculated Earth's circumference, and created the first world map.

Key Figures in History

• Herodotus: The first historian to use meticulous reporting methods; often referred to as the “Father of History.”
• Thucydides: Advanced historical accuracy and narrative scope in documenting the Peloponnesian War.

Key Figures in Linguistics

• Noam Chomsky: Regarded as the "Father of Linguistics"; developed influential theories on language structure.

Symbolic Interactionism Examples

• Socio-Cultural: Filipinos use social media during the pandemic to convey support, exemplified through expressive challenges like the Front-liners Dance Challenge.
• Economic: A child of business parents may adopt business values, seeing entrepreneurship as an opportunity due to parental influence.
• Political: The Philippine Presidential Seal symbolizes historical and dignified aspects of leadership, incorporating national symbols like the coat of arms and sea lion.

This quiz covers the foundational aspects of Natural Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences. It delves into specific disciplines such as Anthropology and Psychology, exploring their methodologies and areas of study. Test your understanding of how these fields analyze human behavior, culture, and society.