Sociology


The presentation of sociology on this site is distinctly different than the usual academic tradition. While this tradition has the weight of a good deal of history behind it, it artificially separates topics that are actually closely related and includes topics that ought to be distinct. In the usual treatments, the study of modern or industrialized peoples is considered to belong to sociology, while the study of non-modern and non-industrial peoples is considered to belong to anthropology. This is often divided into cultural anthropology or ethnology and physical anthropology. Archaeology, which has to do with the methods of study of buried or submerged material culture and the remains of peoples is also regarded as a separate subject.	Sapience Home Site Map About Sapience Peoples Communities Social structure and change
Topics are organized differently on this site, which may lead to to some confusion. As here presented, Sociology includes the study of whole civilizations and societies, cities and communities, and elemensts of social structure and change, whether the societies are living or extinct and whether industrialized or not. It thus includes the part of sociology that deals with modern or industrial society, as well as most of cultural anthropology or ethnology. This approach also includes archaeology, which is not treated as a separate discipline, but may be considered along with the earlier periods of history, with specific peoples and regions, or with material culture. Those parts of sociology that deal with general principles applicable to all societies, and physical anthropology are considered as part of Anthropology, on this site. Linguistic anthropology is mostly considered with linguistics.

The presentation of sociology on this site is distinctly different than the usual academic tradition. While this tradition has the weight of a good deal of history behind it, it artificially separates topics that are actually closely related and includes topics that ought to be distinct.

In the usual treatments, the study of modern or industrialized peoples is considered to belong to sociology, while the study of non-modern and non-industrial peoples is considered to belong to anthropology. This is often divided into cultural anthropology or ethnology and physical anthropology. Archaeology, which has to do with the methods of study of buried or submerged material culture and the remains of peoples is also regarded as a separate subject.

Topics are organized differently on this site, which may lead to to some confusion. As here presented, Sociology includes the study of whole civilizations and societies, cities and communities, and elemensts of social structure and change, whether the societies are living or extinct and whether industrialized or not. It thus includes the part of sociology that deals with modern or industrial society, as well as most of cultural anthropology or ethnology. This approach also includes archaeology, which is not treated as a separate discipline, but may be considered along with the earlier periods of history, with specific peoples and regions, or with material culture.

Those parts of sociology that deal with general principles applicable to all societies, and physical anthropology are considered as part of Anthropology, on this site. Linguistic anthropology is mostly considered with linguistics.

Peoples

There is limited information on particular nations. These are at present divided into four major categories: Western peoples and civilization,Asiatic peoples and civilization, African peoples and civilization, and American Indian peoples and civilization.

Communities

At present, this will be limited to considering the larger cities of the world. No further attempt at classifying or analyzing them is yet included, although this may be added in the future.

Social Structure and Change

Social structure and change will include more of sociological theory. It includes large and small scale social change, movements such as urbanization, imperialism, colonialism, processes of social change and factors and causes of social change. It also includes social types, such as industrial societies, agrarian societies, horticultural societies, and hunting and gathering societies. It deals with social structure, including things such as community organization, social classes, institutional and cultural organization, and anthropological structure.


History Many studies of sociology virtually ignore history. This seems to be a profound error. Many aspects of human society only make sense in the context of history. If direct experimentation on societies and communities is impossible, impractical, or unethical, consideration of history is the next best thing to it. Peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change can be examined through prehistory, antiquity, classical and medieval history, modern history, and into the future. Institutions The various peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change all depend heavily on religion, government, economics, education, and families. Culture The examination of peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change depends heavily on behavioral culture, conceptual culture, and material culture.	Links to other sites Social Sciences - Wikipedia Social Sciences in the Yahoo! directory WWW Virtual Library: Social and Behavioral Sciences Julian Dierkes Sociology The SocioWeb Ed Stephan's Timeline of Sociology Sociology Online Intute: Social Sciences Internet Public Library - Social Sciences Sociology Virtual Library
Anthropology Anthropology is useful in examining peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Particular groups Particular groups can be applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. One example of these is the Wright Brothers. Human geography Human geography gives places to peoples, communities, and events of social structure and change. Asian geography can be applied to peoples, communities, and social structure and change. Southwest Asia can be connected to peoples and communities. The Near East is connected to peoples. Arabia can be connected to peoples. Asia Minor is connected to sociology. The Transcausasus is connected to sociology. The Iranian Highlands are also significant. South Asian geography can be connected to sociology. East Asian geography can be connected to sociology. Central Asian geography is connected to sociology. Southeast Asian geography is connected to sociology. North Asian geography will be important. European geography can be applied to peoples, communities, and social structure and change. Balkan geograhy can be applied to sociology. Italian geography can be applied to sociology. Iberian geography can be applied to sociology. Northwest Europe can be applied to sociology. Island Europe can be applied to sociology. Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and Scandinavia will also be important. African geography is useful in examination of peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. North African geography can be applied to sociology. East African geography can be applied to sociology. West African, North Central, South Central, and Southern African geography can also be examined. North American geography is useful in examination of peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Northern North American geography, Middle North American, and Southern North American are vital to these studies. South American geography can be applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Oceanic geography can be applied to peoples of the world and communities. Human ecology Human ecology is useful in examination of peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. The influence of people on the environment is useful in examining peoples and communities. Relationships with other living things can at present be applied to peoples. The impact of the environment on people can also be applied to sociology. Physical anthropology Physical anthropology can be applied to the study of peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Human dispersion can be applied to peoples. Racial variation can be applied to sociology. Human origins, while significant to sociology, is generally less important than culture. Demography Demography can be applied to the study of peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Population change can be applied to sociology. Population size and structure can be applied to sociology. Morbidity and mortality can be applied to sociology. Migration can be applied to sociology. Birth and fertility is highly important to sociology. Social foundations Social foundations are more usually considered part of sociology than anthropology. They can be applied to study of peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Social group behavior can be applied to sociology. Social group types can be applied to sociology. Social control can be applied to sociology. Social interaction can be applied to sociology. Social presentation can be applied to sociology. Personal studies Personal studies can be applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Biography Biographies are useful in describing societies and in helping mearure their relative influence. There are too many people to list here: they are discussed in the particular divisions of sociology. They are also useful in helping identify the most important movements and changes, Psychology Psychology has limited direct use to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Social psychology can perhaps be applied to peoples of the world and communities. Personality may be applicable to peoples of the world and communities. Mental disorders may be applicable to peoples of the world and communities. Developmental psychology can be applied to peoples. Behavior patterns seem to be indirectly useful to sociology. Mind seems to have indirect connections to sociology. Behavioral elements seem to be mostly indirectly useful to sociology. Human body The human body seems to be mostly indirectly important to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Appearance is somewhat useful in describing peoples. Life cycle can be connected to sociology. Disease may be useful in sociology. Body function may be applicable to sociology. Control functions, reproductive functions, vital functions, mobility, and strength might be connected. Body systems seem to be at best indirectly applicable to sociology. control systems, reproductive systems, vital systems, and structural systems might be connected. Science Science can be somewhat indirectly applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Biology Biology can be applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change Biohistory can perhaps be applied to peoples of the world, communites, and social structure and change. Precambrian and Paleozoic life seem to be indirectly useful. Mesozoic history jmay perhaps be useful to sociology. Cenozoic life can be connected more directly to peoples. Ecology can perhaps be applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Biogeography including marine and terrestrial biogeography may perhaps be connected to sociology. Ecosystems, evolution, systems ecology, community ecology, population ecology, and behavioral ecology seem to be more indirectly useful. Systematics can perhaps be applied to peoples of the world and communities. Animals, fungi, plants, protists, and microbes are often at least indirectly important in sociology. Organism biology perhaps be applied to peoples of the world and communities. Behavior, life cycle, forms, organs systems, tissues, and habital seem to be chiefly directly useful. Cell biology can perhaps be applied to peoples of the world and communities. Cell types, behavior, and anatomy seems to be indirectly useful. Molecular biology can perhaps be applied to peoples of the world and communities. Nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, small organics, and inorganics seems to be at best indirectly useful. Earth science Earth science can be applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Geohistory can be applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Precambrian, Paleozoic, and Mesozoic history seems to be less useful than Cenozoic events, which can be applied somewhat to sociology. Events of the Holocene epoch seem to be most useful. Physical geography can be applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Mapping, terrestrial geography, and oceanic geography can be connected. Atmospheric science can be indirectly applied to peoples of the world and communities. Climatology, meteorology, and atmospheric structure can be considered. Hydrospheric science can be indirectly applied to peoples of the world and communities. Studies of the oceans, glaciers, groundwater, and freshwater are indirectly useful. Geology can be indirectly applied to peoples of the world and communities. Interior geology, geologic processes, landforms, rocks, and minerals appears to be mostly indirectly useful. Astronomy Astronomy can be indirectly applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Cosmology has little direct connection to sociology. Events of galactic astronomy are usually not directly observed. Events of stellar astronomy seem to have an indirect effect on sociology. Events of solar system astronomy sometimes influence human society. Chemistry Chemistry can be indirectly applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Chemical systems including organic systems, inorganic systems, gaseous, liquid, and solid chemistry do not seem to be directly applicable, but might be considered. Chemical change including nuclear reactions, chemical reactions, and physical changes might be connected. Chemical substances including mixtures, compounds, and elements do not seem to be directly applicable. Physics Physics seems to be at too low a level to be directly useful in sociology, but applications to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change can be considered. The structure of matter including bulk matter, molecular physics, atomic physics, and subatomic physics can be connected. Quantum physics can be connected. Relativity theory including general relativity and special relativity can be connected. Electromagnetism including optics, magnetism, electric current, and electrostatics can be connected. Thermodynamics including nonclassical thermodynamics, classical thermodyanmics, and statistical mechanics can be connected. Mechanics including gravitation, nonrigid mechanics, rigid body mechanics, and particle mechanics can be connected.

History

Many studies of sociology virtually ignore history. This seems to be a profound error. Many aspects of human society only make sense in the context of history. If direct experimentation on societies and communities is impossible, impractical, or unethical, consideration of history is the next best thing to it. Peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change can be examined through prehistory, antiquity, classical and medieval history, modern history, and into the future.

Institutions

The various peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change all depend heavily on religion, government, economics, education, and families.

Culture

The examination of peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change depends heavily on behavioral culture, conceptual culture, and material culture.

Anthropology

Anthropology is useful in examining peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change.

Particular groups

Particular groups can be applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. One example of these is the Wright Brothers.

Human geography

Human geography gives places to peoples, communities, and events of social structure and change. Asian geography can be applied to peoples, communities, and social structure and change. Southwest Asia can be connected to peoples and communities. The Near East is connected to peoples. Arabia can be connected to peoples. Asia Minor is connected to sociology. The Transcausasus is connected to sociology. The Iranian Highlands are also significant. South Asian geography can be connected to sociology. East Asian geography can be connected to sociology. Central Asian geography is connected to sociology. Southeast Asian geography is connected to sociology. North Asian geography will be important. European geography can be applied to peoples, communities, and social structure and change. Balkan geograhy can be applied to sociology. Italian geography can be applied to sociology. Iberian geography can be applied to sociology. Northwest Europe can be applied to sociology. Island Europe can be applied to sociology. Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and Scandinavia will also be important.

African geography is useful in examination of peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. North African geography can be applied to sociology. East African geography can be applied to sociology. West African, North Central, South Central, and Southern African geography can also be examined.

North American geography is useful in examination of peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Northern North American geography, Middle North American, and Southern North American are vital to these studies. South American geography can be applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Oceanic geography can be applied to peoples of the world and communities.

Human ecology

Human ecology is useful in examination of peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. The influence of people on the environment is useful in examining peoples and communities. Relationships with other living things can at present be applied to peoples. The impact of the environment on people can also be applied to sociology.

Physical anthropology

Physical anthropology can be applied to the study of peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Human dispersion can be applied to peoples. Racial variation can be applied to sociology. Human origins, while significant to sociology, is generally less important than culture.

Demography

Demography can be applied to the study of peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Population change can be applied to sociology. Population size and structure can be applied to sociology. Morbidity and mortality can be applied to sociology. Migration can be applied to sociology. Birth and fertility is highly important to sociology.

Social foundations

Social foundations are more usually considered part of sociology than anthropology. They can be applied to study of peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Social group behavior can be applied to sociology. Social group types can be applied to sociology. Social control can be applied to sociology. Social interaction can be applied to sociology. Social presentation can be applied to sociology.

Personal studies

Personal studies can be applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change.

Biography

Biographies are useful in describing societies and in helping mearure their relative influence. There are too many people to list here: they are discussed in the particular divisions of sociology. They are also useful in helping identify the most important movements and changes,

Psychology

Psychology has limited direct use to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Social psychology can perhaps be applied to peoples of the world and communities. Personality may be applicable to peoples of the world and communities. Mental disorders may be applicable to peoples of the world and communities. Developmental psychology can be applied to peoples. Behavior patterns seem to be indirectly useful to sociology. Mind seems to have indirect connections to sociology. Behavioral elements seem to be mostly indirectly useful to sociology.

Human body

The human body seems to be mostly indirectly important to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Appearance is somewhat useful in describing peoples. Life cycle can be connected to sociology. Disease may be useful in sociology. Body function may be applicable to sociology. Control functions, reproductive functions, vital functions, mobility, and strength might be connected. Body systems seem to be at best indirectly applicable to sociology. control systems, reproductive systems, vital systems, and structural systems might be connected.

Science

Science can be somewhat indirectly applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change.

Biology

Biology can be applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change

Biohistory can perhaps be applied to peoples of the world, communites, and social structure and change. Precambrian and Paleozoic life seem to be indirectly useful. Mesozoic history jmay perhaps be useful to sociology. Cenozoic life can be connected more directly to peoples.

Ecology can perhaps be applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Biogeography including marine and terrestrial biogeography may perhaps be connected to sociology. Ecosystems, evolution, systems ecology, community ecology, population ecology, and behavioral ecology seem to be more indirectly useful.

Systematics can perhaps be applied to peoples of the world and communities. Animals, fungi, plants, protists, and microbes are often at least indirectly important in sociology.

Organism biology perhaps be applied to peoples of the world and communities. Behavior, life cycle, forms, organs systems, tissues, and habital seem to be chiefly directly useful.

Cell biology can perhaps be applied to peoples of the world and communities. Cell types, behavior, and anatomy seems to be indirectly useful.

Molecular biology can perhaps be applied to peoples of the world and communities. Nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, small organics, and inorganics seems to be at best indirectly useful.

Earth science

Earth science can be applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change.

Geohistory can be applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Precambrian, Paleozoic, and Mesozoic history seems to be less useful than Cenozoic events, which can be applied somewhat to sociology. Events of the Holocene epoch seem to be most useful.

Physical geography can be applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change. Mapping, terrestrial geography, and oceanic geography can be connected.

Atmospheric science can be indirectly applied to peoples of the world and communities. Climatology, meteorology, and atmospheric structure can be considered.

Hydrospheric science can be indirectly applied to peoples of the world and communities. Studies of the oceans, glaciers, groundwater, and freshwater are indirectly useful.

Geology can be indirectly applied to peoples of the world and communities. Interior geology, geologic processes, landforms, rocks, and minerals appears to be mostly indirectly useful.

Astronomy

Astronomy can be indirectly applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change.

Cosmology has little direct connection to sociology. Events of galactic astronomy are usually not directly observed. Events of stellar astronomy seem to have an indirect effect on sociology. Events of solar system astronomy sometimes influence human society.

Chemistry

Chemistry can be indirectly applied to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change.

Chemical systems including organic systems, inorganic systems, gaseous, liquid, and solid chemistry do not seem to be directly applicable, but might be considered. Chemical change including nuclear reactions, chemical reactions, and physical changes might be connected. Chemical substances including mixtures, compounds, and elements do not seem to be directly applicable.

Physics

Physics seems to be at too low a level to be directly useful in sociology, but applications to peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change can be considered. The structure of matter including bulk matter, molecular physics, atomic physics, and subatomic physics can be connected. Quantum physics can be connected. Relativity theory including general relativity and special relativity can be connected. Electromagnetism including optics, magnetism, electric current, and electrostatics can be connected. Thermodynamics including nonclassical thermodynamics, classical thermodyanmics, and statistical mechanics can be connected. Mechanics including gravitation, nonrigid mechanics, rigid body mechanics, and particle mechanics can be connected.

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