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Origins
The emergence of sociology.
It would difficult empirically and perhaps impossible intellectually to argue the case that the discipline of sociology was in some sense 'born' in this or that era. Even a cursory scan of history will reveal the study of society or social life has preoccupied many throughout history - from Aristotle in Ancient Greece to the Arabian scholar Ibn Khaldun in 14th century Eygpt.
However if we are to restrict ourselves to a analysis of the emergence of that entity which we now know as the formal discipline of socioogy, it might be that it is appropriate to point to developments in 18th and early 19th century Europe.
For it could be argued that 'sociology' - that formally named study of human societies - is a development of at least two discrete, yet interrelated and significant events which occurred in 18th century Europe:
The first of these events is the so-called 'Enlightenment'. 'The Enlightenment' was a revolution in ideas. Briefly put, it had two centres; in Scotland and the other in France. Philosophers and social theorists of the period were seeking to change the way we understood the natural and social worlds. They were seeking to overthrow what they saw as the dogma of the Church and in particular of the clerics and to devise an alternative view of the world based upon rational thinking and the empirically based sciences. Thus Reason and Science were said to be two of the most important precepts of this 'Enlightenment'.
It is clear that some of these thinkers were what we might now judge to be 'sociologists', since in their writings we see evidence of an attempt to understand the social relations and social institutions around them. Men like Adam Ferguson (1723-1816) and Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755) sought to explain 'civil society' and the role of environment on social organisation respectively; whilst women such as Mary Astell (1666-1731) and Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-98) sought to demonstrate why women should be included in this new rational order because of the centrality of women to not only domestic but public life.
Yet for all its overarching concern with ideas it must be remembered that this enlightenment had in part emerged out of a horror and concern emanating from an all-too real-world event. The Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 had been a powerful one and killed thousands whilst making many thousands more homeless. The earthquake - the worst in Portugal's history - had made many raise questions regarding God and the Church.
Equally the Enlightenment itself became the cause of very real-world revolutions as a consequence of its revolution in ideas!
The writings of the English philosopher John Locke (1632-1704) are said to be the principal influence on both the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the American Revolution of the late 18th century. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-78) is said to be the chief influence for the French Revolution.
The French Revolution, had shaken not just France and the rest of Europe to its foundations, but North America too. The old absolutist Monarchies were either overthrown or seriously under threat as new classes appeared on the political stage and demanded democratic representation and citizens Rights.
Together, the Enlightenment and the French and American Revolutions, are the two events which helped set the 'ground' as it were for something like a formal study of human society to emerge.
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