What is social science? What was this science called before? Let's look at compound words. Based on the name, we can say that this is the science of society. But what does that mean?
The concept of society
It seems very easy to give an explanation. Everyone has heard about the society of book lovers, fishermen and hunters. This term is also found in economic (economic) activities - a limited liability company, a joint-stock company, etc. You can also find application of the concept in historical science. For example, it is used to define socio-economic pharmacy - feudal or capitalist. Many define society as a collection of people, a gathering, etc.
But the social science of Bogolyubov (the author of school textbooks) gives a clear understanding of this concept. Society is a part of the world isolated from nature, but closely connected with it, which includes forms of unification of people and ways of their interaction.
Social science: Bogolyubov on the signs of human society
This is the key question in this science. Without it, it is impossible to fully understand what social science is. It has the following features:
- Separation from nature. It is implied that the person is no longer the casestrongly dependent on its whims, climate, as primitive people and animals. We have learned how to build houses, stockpile supplies in case of crop failure, replace many natural materials with artificial ones, etc.
- Together with nature. Isolation does not mean complete rejection. Despite all the achievements in science and technology, man is constantly in contact with nature. It is enough to remember how many lives are taken by tsunamis, how much destruction occurs from hurricanes, to understand the connection with nature.
- Society implies a system of combining the forms of people. They are different: political or economic associations, workers' or cooperative collectives, as well as all sorts of social institutions. All this is united in a single system, which bears the scientific term "society".
- Methods of interaction between associations. For the functioning of the system, tools, methods of maintaining unity and integrity are needed. They are forms of human interaction.
Thus, Bogolyubov's social science gives a complete, voluminous definition of this concept in a broad sense. Colleagues at work are a work collective, not a society in the understanding of science, despite the fact that at the everyday level it can be called that.
Spheres of public life
The lessons of social studies are completely based on this concept. Spheres are particles of a single system. Each segment performs a specific role and maintains the unity of society. There are four of them:
- Economic sphere. This is everything related to the production, distribution and exchangematerial goods and services.
- Political. This includes all social institutions for governance. In a key way, this is connected with such a concept as the state.
- Social. Associated with human communication within society.
- Spiritual. Aimed at meeting the intangible human needs.
Consequently, to the question of what social science is, one can also answer that it is a science that studies the spheres of public life, their role in human life and the ways of interaction between them.
The role of social science
Indeed, this science seems useless to many. And most of the humanitarian too. Until the 20th century, they did not pay any attention at all. Only mathematical, applied sciences were valued in life. They were the main focus of development. This is what led to a sharp technological leap in the development of mankind. What is social science and for what purpose this science is needed, no one was interested.
But the so-called technocracy has paid off. Having subjugated all industries, automation, people got the deepest crisis on the planet. It resulted in two previously unheard-of wars in terms of their scale. In just half a century, more people have died on the fields of new, technical battles than in the entire history of mankind before that.
Results
Thus, the leap in science and technology has made it possible to create an unheard of weapon that in a few minutes will completely destroy the planet with all living organisms on it. Atomic and hydrogen bombs are capable ofdeflect the Earth from its course, which will lead to its death as a cosmic body.
The author of school textbooks "Social Science" Bogolyubov also thinks. For many years he was engaged in the exact sciences, considering the humanities a waste of time. But then came the realization that technology without human development is capable of destroying all life. It is with the development of humanity, morality, law, with an increase in the level of education, culture and spirituality that it is necessary to improve and introduce new adaptations. And without theoretical knowledge it is impossible. Social science as a science is designed to fill the gap in knowledge. Studying the spheres of life, a person will learn what morality and values, culture and religion are, will carefully treat the environment, respect people and himself.
