Question

When did sociology emerge as a separate social science in Europe ?

• A. 17th century
• B. 18th century
• C. 19th century
• D. 21st century

Hint:

Associate the birth of sociology with the 19th century and its key founder, Auguste Comte (1838). The major social transformations of that century were the primary catalysts for its development.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks for the historical period when sociology was established as a distinct academic discipline in Europe.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- The intellectual foundations of sociology were laid during the Enlightenment in the 18th century, but it did not emerge as a formal science then.
- Sociology as a distinct discipline was born in the 19th century. The French philosopher Auguste Comte coined the term "sociology" in 1838.
- The 19th century was a period of profound social upheaval due to the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution. Thinkers like Comte, Herbert Spencer, Karl Marx, and later Emile Durkheim and Max Weber developed systematic ways to study these societal changes, thereby establishing sociology as a separate social science.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Sociology emerged as a separate social science in the 19th century.