Sociology is the Scientific study of society.

In order to comprehend any subject, it is pertinent to look into the socio-cultural coordinates of its genesis and growth. It is a truism that that the history of social life and its problems is as old as human being itself. The origin of sociology is associated with the evolution of man. However the roots of sociological understanding go back to the ancient Greek and Roman literature. But the systematic study of society emerged in the West. Besides, we do find references of law, the state and the society in Plato’s Republic (427-347 B.C) and in Aristotle’s Ethics and politics (348- 322 B.C.). Similarly, Roman philosopher Cicero’s book De Officiis (on justice) was a treasure of insights in philosophy, law, polities and sociology. St. 

Augustine’s De civitate Dei (345-430 A.D) deals with social concepts and questions. Later on significant works of subsequent ages like the summa theological and de regimine prnicipum of Thomas Aquinas (1227-1274) De Monarchia of Dante (1265-1321) deals with social concepts and questions of their time. In the modern periods, there appeared some writers who treated problems of life and society on a more realistic level. No clear cut distinction was made between state and society until the 16th century. Machiavelli in his famous work “The prince” made an objective discussion on state and statecraft. Another notable author of this period was Sir Thomas Moore (1477-1535) who, in his book “Utopia” published in 1515, dealt with day to day social problems. Scholars like Thomas Campanella (1568-1639) in his “City of the Sun” Sir Francis Bacon in his “New Atlantis” (1561-1628) and James Harrington in his “The common wealth of Nations” made discussion on what real life ought to be. Similarly, famous Italian writer Vico and French scholar Montesquieu gives stress on scientific investigation of social phenomenon. 

In his book”The New Science” Vico opined that society was subject to definite laws which could be observed through objective observation. Montesquieu in his famous work “The Spirit of Laws” had analysed the role of external factors in life of human societies French scholar Saint Simon tried to develop a new science which would study social life like physics studies the physical world. But the origin of sociology is attributed to the numerous developments in the 18th and 19th century especially the Industrial revolution and the French revolution. These two epoch-making events changed the entire history of human society. It resulted in metamorphic changes in the realm of economy, polity, culture and religiosity of mankind. This altered reality attracted the attention of the scholars like Saint Simon, Auguste Comte and others. They attempted to explain this social transition thereby envisioning their ideas on social reconstruction. Sociology owes its birth to this intellectual endeavour. Comte is rightly called as the founder of sociology because he coined the term and also its theme and methodology. Study of the social institutions was special significance for him. In his famous work “Positive Philosophy”, Comte pointed out the need for the creation of a distinct science of society which he first called “social physics” and later “sociology” that showed concern for analysis and explanation of social phenomena.