Social Science
Social Science is concerned about society. It aims at understanding all aspects of society as well as finding solutions to deal with social problems.
A good definition is given by the European Science foundation – the social sciences are those subjects which examine and explain human beings. This includes a variety of ways – from understanding how minds work, to how societies as a whole function.
The major social sciences are:
· Anthropology
· Archaeology
· Economics
· Geography
· History
· Law
· Linguistics
· Politics
· Psychology and
· Sociology
a. Anthropology
Anthropology is the scientific study of humans, human behavior, and societies in the past and present. It came from the two Geek words “anthropos” (human) and “logia” (study).
Four Subfields of Anthropology
1. Physical Anthropology-studies humans as biological organisms: their emrgence, evolution, and variation
2. Archaeological Anthropology- ettempts to reconstruct the cultures of the past (historic and prehistoric) through material remains.
3. Liguistic Anthropology- focuses on the study of language in historical, structural, and social contexts.
4. Cultural Anthropology- examines similarities and differences among contemporary cultures of the world.
b. Archaeology
Arcaheology is the scientific study of the material remains of past human life and activities. These include human artifacts from the very earliest stone tools to the man-made objects that are buried or thrown away in the present day: everything made by human beings—from simple tools to complex machines, from the earliest houses and temples and tombs to palaces, cathedrals, and pyramids
c. Economics
Economics is derived from two Greek words: oikos and nomos, which literally means house and law. Together, these words connote management, in the same light as we manage the affairs of our own households.
d. Geography
Geography came from the two Greek words “geo” which means “earth” and “graphein” which means “to write” or “to draw.” It means “to write about the earth” or “earth description.”
e. History
History is the study of the past – specifically the people, societies, events and problems of the past – as well as our attempts to understand them. It is a pursuit common to all human societies.f. Law
Law is a rule of conduct developed by the government or society over a certain territory. Law follows certain practices and customs in order to deal with crime, business, social relationships, property, finance, etc. The Law is controlled and enforced by the controlling authority.
g. Linguistics
Linguistics is the systematic study of the structure and evolution of human language, and it is applicable to every aspect of human endeavor.
h. Politics
Political science, the systematic study of governance by the application of empirical and generally scientific methods of analysis. As traditionally defined and studied, political science examines the state and its organs and institutions. The contemporary discipline, however, is considerably broader than this, encompassing studies of all the societal, cultural, and psychological factors that mutually influence the operation of government and the body politic.
i. Psychology
Psychology provides an understanding of both animal and human behavior and usually the focus is on individuals rather than group. It is the scientific study of the mind and behavior according to the American Psychological Association.
j. Sociology
Sociology is the study of human social relationships and institutions. Sociology’s subject matter is diverse, ranging from crime to religion, from the family to the state, from the divisions of race and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture, and from social stability to radical change in whole societies.