Page 29 - DSOC401_SOCIOLOGICAL_THOUGHT_ENGLISH

Unit-5: Hierarchy on Sciences

3. Physics, notes
4. Chemistry,
5. Biology,
6. Sociology.
In this hierarchy of sciences, the premier position is given to Mathematics. The reasons for this
according to the views of Comte is that Mathematics is the oldest, most fundamental and flawless of
the sciences. The investigation of natural laws is impossible without utilizing it. In this sense it is the
original tool of human thinking. In the field of research, whether it is social or natural, no other science
is as dependable and capable, because facts and reality, their names, their proximate relationships
determinate knowledge is only possible through the help of mathematics. Any other science cannot
be successful in its investigations and research unless it takes the help of mathematics, because it
is the base or foundation of all sciences. All other sciences stand on this foundation and are thus
capacitated in calling themselves sciences. For this reason, Comte has given Mathematics the premier
and fundamental place in the hierarchy of sciences.
To place the other sciences in their determined position in the hierarchy of sciences, Comte has divided
all natural events into two main parts – inorganic and organic.
Inorganic events are further divided into two sub–parts— astronomical and terrestrial. Astronomical
related events are mostly generalized and similar. Planets and stars change very slowly in hardly
perceptible ways. Astronomy is related to the study of events related to the cosmos. Planets, their
satellites, stars, comets constellations etc. come within the study Venus, Mars, Mercury, Earth, Saturn,
Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto and .... are planets, while the moon is a satellite of our earth. These planets,
stars and satellites distance from each other, and how their gravitational pull is related to each other,
what is their base, what is a star–family (eg. the family of the sun or Helios family consists of Earth,
Moon, Mars, Jupiter etc many planets and their satellites included) what is their speed etc. are the
subjects that are studied in Astronomy. Here the question may arise as to the importance of this
study, or the to what purpose is served by man on earth gathering astronomical data for space–related
events? The answer is very simple. We can never understand our earth related events until the time,
we understand the nature of the earth, and its relation to the other star–planets. This knowledge can
only be given to us by Astronomy.
Within terrestrial physics two sciences are incorporaetd. – Physics main and Chemistry. To know about
the subject of Physical matter, it is necessary to define them chemically. For this activity, there are two
separate sciences – Physics and Chemistry. The study subject of Physics is more general than the study
of subject chemistry, which is more related to matter than facts chemical truths/facts are dependent
on the laws of Physics, but this does not mean that chemical events are also influenced by the laws of
Physics. Any chemical activity is influenced by the laws of weight, heat and electricity. Thus the study
of inorganic events are done through three sciences – astronomy, physics and chemistry.
Organic events are of two, kinds – individual and community ones. Under the first come vegetable
and animal world and its complete individual or bodily form activities and functions. This is the
study – subject of Biology. In this is included the laws related to all life. It is obvious that biology is
dependent on chemistry, because all the trustworthy laws about nurture and secretion of glands are
only available to us in chemistry. Not only this, Biology too is also related to physics, because physics
gives the knowledge related to facts of weight, heat etc of living beings. The effects of astronomical
laws are felt on the laws of biology. For example, if the speed of the earth increases from its present
speed, its result will be that the speed of bodily related events too will definitely increase, and the
span of life will decrease. Astronomy also tells us that the earth moves on its axis, life a spinning top,
from west to east, and completes a revolution in approximately 24 hrs. Because of this daily orbit
halve of the earth’s parts keeps coming and going the light of the sun, turn by turn, for the passing of

LoVeLY professionaL uniVersitY 23