1. Who coined the term sociology
A. Herbert Spencer
B. Auguste Comte
C. Emile Durkheim
D. Karl Marx
2. When did the term sociology coined
A. 1839
B. 1732
C. 1835
D. 1650
3. The term socius derived from which language?
A. German
B. Latin
C. Greek
D. Roman
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answers:
- B. Auguste Comte
- A. 1839
- B. Latin
Explanation:
Sociology, as a field of study, was formally named and conceptualized by Auguste Comte, a French philosopher, in 1839. Comte is often regarded as the “Father of Sociology” because he was the first to propose a systematic approach to studying human society scientifically. His work laid the foundation for sociology as an independent discipline, emphasizing the need for empirical observation and classification of societal structures.
Comte coined the term sociology by combining two words: “socius” (a Latin word meaning “companion” or “associate”) and “logos” (a Greek word meaning “study” or “discourse”). Thus, sociology essentially means the study of society or social relationships. His goal was to create a “science of society” that could analyze social order and progress, similar to how natural sciences study the physical world.
Before Comte, philosophers and thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Ibn Khaldun had discussed aspects of social life, but they did not establish sociology as a distinct discipline. Comte classified sociology into two main areas:
- Social Statics – The study of social structures that maintain stability.
- Social Dynamics – The study of social change and progress over time.
His work influenced later sociologists like Émile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Max Weber, who developed their own theories on society. Sociology has since evolved into a broad discipline that studies various aspects of human interactions, institutions, culture, and social behavior.
