Contribution of Auguste Somte & Karl Marx

• Auguste Comte, French Social Philosopher

  (1798- 1857)
Auguste Comte was the first social philosopher to coin and use the term sociology. He was also the first to regard himself as a sociologist. He defined sociology as the scientific study of social dynamics and social static. He argued that sociology can and should study society and social phenomena following the pattern and procedures of the natural science. Comte believed that a theoretical science of society and the systematic investigation of human behavior were needed to improve society. He argued that the new science of society could and should make a critical contribution towards a new and improved human society.                Comte defined sociology as the study of social dynamic and social static, the former signifying the changing, progressing and developmental dimensions of society, while the latter refers to the social order and those elements of society and social phenomena which tend to persist and relatively permanent, defying change. Comte named the scientific study of social patterns positivism. He described his philosophy in a series of books called The Course in Positive Philosophy (1830–1842) and A General View of Positivism (1848).

                             Society is ever changing from one condition to another. Its natural condition is called social evolution. If change is brought by force, it is called revolution. If it is brought according to social will and requirement of the people, it is called social progress.

Static Sociology :

                               The groups, institutions and the individuals function their roles according to their status. They are organized form. Organizations among people develop setting them into social order. The norms of society are observed with least violation. This whole setup is based on division of labor in the society. The foundation of this condition of society is laid on universal principle of consensus. It means similarity creates the principle of consensus and cohesiveness which sets the whole society in order. The study of society in this condition is called Static Sociology.

Dynamic Sociology :

                                        Comte laid emphasis on the study of social change and said that in this condition, people get changes through change in mind and ideas. After which moral, political and economic changes follow. To study this changing condition of society is called social dynamics or dynamic sociology.

• Karl Marx (German, 1818-1883)
Marx was a world-renowned social philosopher, sociologist and economic historian. He made remarkable contributions to the development of various social sciences including sociology. He was a good organizer, committed, revolutionary, a voracious reader and an effective writer. He contributed greatly to sociological ideas. He introduced key concepts in sociology like social class, social class conflict, social oppression, alienation, etc. Marx, like Comte, argued that people should make active efforts to bring about societal reforms. According to Marx, economic forces are the keys to underestimating society and social change. He believed that the history of human society has been that of class conflict. He dreamed of, and worked hard towards realizing, a classless society, one in which there will be no exploitation and oppression of one class by another, and wherein all individuals will work according to their abilities and receive according to their needs. Marx introduced one of the major perspectives in sociology, called social conflict theory.