Question

Who among the following is associated with the synthetic school of sociology ?

• A. Auguste Comte
• B. Emile Durkheim
• C. Pareto
• D. Spencer

Hint:

To remember the schools of scope: think 'Formalistic = Forms' (Simmel) and 'Synthetic = Synthesis' (Durkheim, Sorokin, Hobhouse). The synthetic school sees sociology as a broad, integrative discipline.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
In sociology, there was a debate about its scope, leading to two main schools of thought:
- The Formalistic (or Specialist) School: Argued that sociology should be a specific, pure science studying only the 'forms' of social relationships (e.g., Georg Simmel).
- The Synthetic School: Argued that sociology should be a general science, synthesizing the findings of other social sciences (like history, economics, political science) to provide a complete picture of society.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- Emile Durkheim is a key proponent of the synthetic school. His work, like "The Division of Labour in Society," drew upon law, economics, and history to understand social solidarity. He viewed sociology as the study of 'social facts' in their totality.
- Auguste Comte and Herbert Spencer are also considered forerunners of this school because of their encyclopedic approach to studying society.
- However, Durkheim is most strongly and directly associated with establishing the synthetic approach as a major sociological tradition. Vilfredo Pareto is generally associated with a different tradition focusing on logical-experimental science.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Emile Durkheim is a prominent sociologist associated with the synthetic school of sociology.