Characteristics of Early Sociology

The science of sociology was taking its shape to emerge as a distinct science in the second half of the 19th century and early part of the 20th century. According to T.B. Bottomore early sociology assumed the following characteristics:

1. Early sociology was encyclopedic in character. It was "concerned with the whole social life of man and with the whole of human history".
2. Early sociology, which was under the influence of philosophy of history and the biological theory of evolution, was largely evolutionary in nature.
3. It was generally regarded as a positive science similar in character to the natural sciences. "Sociology in the 19th century was modelled upon biology". This fact could be ascertained from the widely used conceptions of society as an organisation and from the attempts to formulate general laws of the present day.
4. Sociology was virtually recognised above all, "a science of the new industrial society". Even through sociology claimed itself to be a general science, it dealt particularly with social problems arising from the political and economic revolutions of the 18 century.
5. Sociology as "an ideological as well as scientific character". Various conservative and radical ideas entered into its formulation, gave rise to conflicting theories, and provoked controversies which continue to the present day.