Important People in Sociology

Auguste Comte

Often called "father of sociology". He believed societies develop and progress through the following stages: religious (theological stage), metaphysical, and scientific (positive stage).

Herbert Spencer

Compared society to a living organism with interdependent parts. Change in one part of society causes change in the other parts so that every part contributes to the stability and survival of society as a whole. Suggested society will correct its own defects through the natural process of "survival of the fittest."

Karl Marx

Observed society's exploitation of the poor by the rich and powerful. Claimed social conflict, especially class conflict, and competition mark all societies. Believed that economics determines the difference between the bourgeoisie and proletariat.

Emile Durkheim

Applied scientific methods to sociology as a discipline. He stressed the importance of social facts, or patterns of behavior characteristic of a particular group. Believed that sociologists should consider objective "evidence" what they themselves can directly observe.

Max Weber

Disagreed with "objective evidence only." He hargued that sociologists must also consider people's interpretations of events, not just the events themselves. Recommended that sociologists adopt method of Verstehen, or empathetic understanding. This allows sociologists to mentally put themselves into "the other person's shoes" and thus obtain an "interpretive understanding" of the meanings of individuals' behaviors.