SCOPE OF SOCIOLOGY

                                   Different sociologists have put forward their views with regard to the determination of the scope of sociology.Considering those various views,we can categorize them into two major schools of thought.On the basis of definitions of sociology we can argue that scope of sociology is very broad.Trying to delimit the area of its study means not understanding it.Since sociology studies processes of development of societies,its scope goes on expanding as time passes.Sociology do not agree on whether  the study of sociology should be general or particular.Thus,there is no consensus among sociologists regarding the scope of sociology.The variety of opinions can be presented as follows;
     A, Particularistic school-
                                               Sociologists like Max Weber,George Simmel and Ferdinand Tonnies have argued that sociology should be developed as a particular science.Their view is that like social sciences,sociology should also have a particular area of study.It means sociology should deal with what is excluded in other social sciences.Basically that subject matter would turn out to be human behavior,action and interrelationship.This particularistic school's focus is on form of subject matter not its content.Max Weber's view in this connection is that sociology should explain away those social behaviors which are directly towards the fulfillment of certain goals.
 B, Synthetic school-
                                   Mnay sociologists are of the view that sociology being the science of science cannot be confined to a particular field.A mong those sociologists Durkheim,Ginsberg,Sorokin and Hobhouse are some important names.As the focus of this school is on the study of society in all its aspects it is called synthetic school.Their focus in on the entire society since sociology deals with different facts of social life it should be developed as a general science.As the various aspects  of social life are inextricably linked,the study of a particular subject matter can not be the area of sociological study.