Lesson 1.2: Development of Social Science

• Who were the key thinkers from Ancient Greece that laid the groundwork for social science?

  Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle
• What did Socrates emphasize in his teachings?

  Critical thinking and questioning
• What theories did Plato contribute to social science?

  Theories about ideal states and the nature of justice
• What areas did Aristotle study that are relevant to social science?

  Politics, economics, and ethics
• What insights did Confucianism and Taoism provide?

  Insights into social order, ethics, and governance
• What contributions did Hinduism and Buddhism make to social science?

  Insights into human existence, spirituality, and the nature of society
• What did Mesopotamia and Egypt develop that was significant for social organization?

  A complex system of law and governance
• What is humanism in the context of social science?

  A focus on human potential and achievements
• What does rational inquiry emphasize?

  Reason and logic to understand the world
• What is civic engagement?

  A strong sense of civic duty and participation
• How did Christianity influence societal understanding during the Middle Ages?

  It shaped understanding of society, politics, and human nature
• What is Just Price Theory?

  A concept arguing for a fair price for goods and services
• What role did charity and almsgiving play in Christian values?

  They emphasized the importance of helping the poor
• How did the Church provide moral guidance during the Middle Ages?

  By offering moral and ethical guidelines for social behavior
• What limited scientific inquiry during the Middle Ages?

  The theological framework that interpreted society through a religious lens
• What was the medieval worldview's perspective on society?

  It emphasized stability and order rather than social change and progress
• What marked the Enlightenment as a turning point for social science?

  A renewed emphasis on reason, empiricism, and humanism
• What was one significant contribution of the Enlightenment to social science?

  The application of the scientific method to the study of human society
• What was the impact of industrialization on nation-states during the Enlightenment?

  It created a pressing need to understand governance, citizenship, and societal cohesion
• What is a nation?

  A group of people who share a common identity
• What is a state?

  A political entity with a defined territory, population, and government that has sovereignty
• What is a nation-state?

  An ideal political unit where most people share a common identity and are governed by their own state
• What limitation did Enlightenment thinkers face regarding methodology?

  They lacked rigorous methodologies that characterize modern social science research
• What was a common issue with the conclusions drawn by Enlightenment thinkers?

  Many conclusions were based on personal experiences rather than systematic data collection
• What was a significant limitation of the Enlightenment's geographic focus?

  Most thinkers were European, limiting their understanding of global diversity
• What was a common issue with generalizations made by Enlightenment thinkers?

  Generalizations were often made without considering specific cultural contexts
• How did social science expand in the 19th and 20th centuries?

  New disciplines emerged, research methods became more sophisticated, and the scope of inquiry broadened
• What does institutionalization refer to in the context of social science?

  The establishment of social science as academic disciplines with their own methodologies
• What advancements were made in research methods during the 19th and 20th centuries?

  Quantitative and qualitative methods were developed for rigorous research
• What societal challenges drove social science research in the 19th and 20th centuries?

  Industrialization, urbanization, wars, and the Great Depression
• What are some key roles of social science in contemporary society?

  Understanding global challenges, driving social change, informing policy making, and building a better future
• What challenges does social science face in the digital age?

  The increasing volume of data and the rapid pace of technological change
• How does the digital age affect sociologists studying social media trends?

  They must grapple with vast datasets to identify meaningful patterns
• What must social scientists do to keep pace with technological changes?

  Continually update their skills and knowledge
• What is required to understand complex social problems like climate change and inequality?

  Interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative research approaches
• How can social scientists address complex issues like poverty?

  By collaborating across disciplines
• What opportunities arise from the challenges faced by social scientists?

  New research avenues and interdisciplinary collaboration
• How does the abundance of data benefit social science research?

  It allows for more sophisticated analyses and the discovery of previously hidden patterns
• What is necessary for addressing complex problems through collaboration?

  Collaboration between different social science disciplines and fields like computer science
• What drives the development of innovative research methods in social science?

  The need to address new challenges