Contribution of Western and Indian Sociologists
Short Questions
1. Who is known as the “Father of Sociology”?
Answer: Auguste Comte is known as the “Father of Sociology.”
2. In which country was Sociology first developed?
Answer: Sociology was first developed in France.
3. What are the three stages in Comte’s Law of Three Stages?
Answer: The three stages are Theological, Metaphysical, and Positive.
4. Who translated Comte’s Cours de Philosophie Positive into English?
Answer: Harriet Martineau translated Comte’s Cours de Philosophie Positive into English.
5. What is the main focus of Durkheim’s Theory of Suicide?
Answer: The main focus is that suicide is a social fact influenced by social integration.
6. Which book by Durkheim discusses the types of suicide?
Answer: Le Suicide by Durkheim discusses the types of suicide.
7. Who is considered the “Father of Indian Sociology”?
Answer: G. S. Ghurye is considered the “Father of Indian Sociology.”
8. What is the key concept introduced by M. N. Srinivas?
Answer: The key concept is the “Dominant Caste.”
9. Which book by Iravati Karve focuses on kinship in India?
Answer: Kinship Organization in India by Iravati Karve focuses on kinship.
10. What did Karl Marx identify as the basis of class conflict?
Answer: Karl Marx identified economic factors as the basis of class conflict.
11. Who was the first Black American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard?
Answer: William Du Bois was the first Black American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard.
12. In which year was the Indian Sociological Society founded?
Answer: The Indian Sociological Society was founded in 1952.
13. What is an example of altruistic suicide mentioned in the text?
Answer: Sati is an example of altruistic suicide mentioned in the text.
14. What does the term “anomie” refer to in Durkheim’s theory?
Answer: “Anomie” refers to a state of normlessness or moral vacuum.
15. Which university established the first Sociology Department in India?
Answer: The University of Bombay established the first Sociology Department in India.
Long Questions
1. Explain Auguste Comte’s Law of Three Stages and its significance in Sociology.
Answer: Auguste Comte’s Law of Three Stages outlines the evolution of human thought from the Theological stage, where explanations relied on supernatural beliefs, to the Metaphysical stage with abstract powers, and finally the Positive stage based on scientific observation. This theory is significant as it laid the foundation for Sociology as a scientific discipline, encouraging empirical research over faith-based reasoning. It provides a framework to understand societal progress and the development of knowledge systems.
2. Describe the four types of suicide identified by Emile Durkheim.
Answer: Emile Durkheim identified four types of suicide: Egoistic, caused by social isolation; Anomic, due to normlessness from sudden social changes; Altruistic, where individuals sacrifice themselves for society (e.g., Sati); and Fatalistic, resulting from excessive societal control. These categories highlight suicide as a social phenomenon influenced by integration and regulation levels rather than personal issues. This theory revolutionized Sociology by linking individual behavior to broader social structures.
3. Discuss the contribution of G. S. Ghurye to the development of Indian Sociology.
Answer: G. S. Ghurye, known as the “Father of Indian Sociology,” established the Indian Sociological Society in 1952 and launched the Sociological Bulletin, fostering sociological studies in India. His book Caste and Race in India (1932) provided a comprehensive analysis of the caste system, emphasizing endogamy, while his work on tribes advocated their integration into Hindu society through Hinduization. His efforts at the University of Bombay’s Sociology Department laid a strong foundation for the discipline in India.
4. What is the concept of the “Dominant Caste” as explained by M. N. Srinivas?
Answer: M. N. Srinivas introduced the concept of the “Dominant Caste,” defined as a caste with significant numerical strength, economic and political power, and high ritual status in the local hierarchy. This caste influences other castes due to attributes like land ownership, education, and occupation, with examples including Lingayats in Karnataka and Reddys in Andhra Pradesh. The concept helps understand power dynamics and caste interactions in Indian society.
5. Explain Iravati Karve’s contribution to the study of kinship in India.
Answer: Iravati Karve’s book Kinship Organization in India (1953) offers a pioneering analysis of kinship systems across India’s geographical regions (Northern, Central, Southern, Eastern) and linguistic groups (Indo-European, Dravidian). She explored kinship terms, marriage patterns, descent, and inheritance, integrating caste and cultural factors into her study. Her work remains a cornerstone in Indian Sociology and Anthropology.
6. How did Karl Marx explain the concept of class conflict in capitalist society?
Answer: Karl Marx viewed class conflict as the central dynamic of capitalist society, driven by economic factors and ownership of production means, dividing society into capitalists and workers. He argued that this conflict leads to polarization, exploitation through surplus value, and worker alienation, culminating in a revolution to overthrow capitalism. The eventual emergence of a communist society would eliminate classes and private property, as per his vision.
7. What role did Harriet Martineau play in introducing Sociology to the English-speaking world?
Answer: Harriet Martineau played a crucial role by translating Auguste Comte’s Cours de Philosophie Positive into English as The Positive Philosophy of Auguste Comte in 1853, making his ideas accessible to English readers. Her book Society in America (1837) analyzed social institutions, including the status of women, pioneering gender studies in Sociology. Her work laid the groundwork for comprehensive social analysis in the English-speaking world.
8. Discuss the significance of William Du Bois’ research on the Black community in the United States.
Answer: William Du Bois’ research, notably The Philadelphia Negro (1899), based on 2,500 interviews, was the first case study of a Black community, highlighting racial and economic exploitation. His advocacy for a separate “group economy” and cultural nationalism promoted Black literature and art, emphasizing “Beauty in Black.” His work remains vital for understanding race relations and social inequality in America.
9. How did the establishment of the Sociology Department at the University of Bombay impact Indian Sociology?
Answer: The establishment of the Sociology Department at the University of Bombay in 1919 under Patrick Geddes marked the formal recognition of Sociology as a discipline in India. It provided a platform for Indian scholars like G. S. Ghurye to develop the field, training the first generation of sociologists post-independence. This initiative laid a strong academic foundation for sociological research in the country.
10. Analyze the challenges posed by Comte’s Theological and Positive stages for Indian society.
Answer: The Theological stage poses challenges in India due to deep-rooted religious beliefs, where reliance on divine explanations (e.g., for poverty or health issues) may hinder scientific solutions and perpetuate caste discrimination. The Positive stage, emphasizing empirical evidence, faces uneven adoption, with rural areas lagging due to limited education, creating a tension between tradition and modernity. Balancing cultural heritage with scientific progress remains a key challenge for Indian society.
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