Sciences and Humanities

• Social science examines human behavior in social and cultural contexts.
• It's an academic discipline studying society and individual relationships within it, often using empirical methods.
• Social sciences emerged during the Age of Enlightenment, post-1650.

Natural Science

• Natural science focuses on describing, predicting, and understanding natural phenomena through observation and empirical evidence.
• Two main branches of Natural science are Life Sciences (Biological Science) examines every living thing on earth and Physical Science which studies the inorganic world.

Commonalities: Natural and Social Sciences

• Both fields employ the scientific method.
• Both rely on empirical and measured data.
• Both test theories to derive theoretical statements.

Humanities

• Focuses on the study of how human experience is processed and documented.
• Encompasses philosophy, literature, religion, art, music, history, and language.

Commonalities: Humanities and Social Sciences

• Both address human aspects like law, politics, linguistics, economics, and psychology.
• Both are concerned with human lives and nature.

Disciplines within Social Sciences

• Anthropology's etymological definition is "the study of humanity".
• Anthropology is the scientific study of humans and their cultures in the past and present.
• Economics etymologically means "household management".
• Economics studies resource allocation to meet needs and wants, along with production and exchange of goods/services.
• Geography etymologically means "description of the earth's surface".
• Geography studies the interaction between people and natural environments.
• History etymologically means "knowledge acquired by inquiry or investigation".
• History systematically studies past events to understand their causes, effects, and societal development.
• Linguistics etymologically means "the science of languages."
• Linguistics is the scientific study of language, its properties, and characteristics.
• Political Science etymologically means "the science of city-state".
• Political Science studies human behavior in relation to power, political systems, and international relations.
• Psychology etymologically means "the study of the mind".
• Psychology studies the human mind and its connection to behavior and actions.
• Sociology etymologically means "the study of society".
• Sociology systematically studies people's behavior in groups and analyzes societal developments and structures.
• Demography etymologically means "writings about population".
• Demography studies human population across time, analyzing its characteristics and factors causing changes.

Structural-Functionalism

• Structural-Functionalism views society as a complex system with interdependent parts working together for stability.
• Talcott Parsons developed it in the 1930s, influenced by Weber and Durkheim.
• Social structures shape interactions within society.
• All social structures function to maintain society as it is. (Macionis 2007)
• Robert Merton believed actions have two components: manifest and latent functions.

Manifest Function

• Manifest functions are the intended social functions of institutions.
• They are the positive, anticipated consequences of social entities.
• Examples in education include socialization, social control, social placement, transmitting culture, political integration, and being agents of change.
• Examples in media include providing information, entertainment, public forums, and promoting cultural cohesion.

Latent Function

• Latent functions are the unintended social functions that are beneficial.
• Unintentional and often obscure beneficial effect for/of an entity or other social phenomena.
• Examples in education include language creation, community building, and social mobility.
• Examples in media include distraction from problems and checks on government.

Social Dysfunction

• It is a social pattern that disrupts the operation of society.
• Dysfunction undermines system equilibrium.
• Causes include lack of consensus and differences in backgrounds or status.
• Manifest dysfunctions are anticipated disruptions, like distracted drivers using cell phones.
• Latent dysfunctions are unintended disruptions, like people missing work due to fiesta traffic.

Social Equilibrium

• Social equilibrium is a working balance among interdependent subsystems in an organization.

Overview of social and natural sciences including humanities. Social science examines human behavior while natural science studies natural phenomena, both using the scientific method. Humanities focuses on human experience through fields like philosophy and art.