Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region IV-A CALABARZON
City Schools Division of cabuyao
District V - B
MAMATID SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Mamatid, Cabuyao City, Laguna

You will differentiate the nature and functions of Social Science

disciplines with the Natural Sciences and Humanities.

Specifically, this module will help you to:

• describe Social Sciences as a comprehensive study of society;

• compare and contrast Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Humanities;

• appreciate the importance of Social Sciences as instruments to deeply

understand the society

Directions: Read each question/sentence carefully and choose the letter of the

best answer. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Which of the following definitions best describes the term “society”?

A. It is a small group of people whose members share tight, personal, and

lasting relationships

B. It is a large social group where the relationships among members are

usually impersonal and goal oriented

C. It is a collection of people whose members frequently meet and consider

themselves as parts of a group

D. It is an organized group of individuals whose members regularly meet or

work together and have a shared culture, interest, and territory

2. The following are the disciplines that are both associated with Social Sciences

and Humanities EXCEPT __________.

A. Anthropology B. Economics C. History D. Linguistics

3. Which academic discipline studies different human conditions and the ways

wherein the human experiences are processed and recorded?

A. Humanities C. Philosophy
B. Natural Science D. Social Science

EXPECTATIONS

PRETEST

Let us start your journey in learning more about Social

Sciences. I am sure you are ready and excited to answer the

Pretest. Smile and cheer up!

4. Which of the following terms refers to the body of knowledge concerned with the

systematic study of different facets of our society, several social phenomena,

and the effects of these occurrences on people’s lives?

A. Humanities C. Philosophy

B. Natural Science D. Social Science

5. What element of Social Sciences places the entire area of study on the members

of the society and their social environments or backgrounds?

a. Empirical Analysis c. Society

b. Nature d. Superstition

6. Which of the following areas of study concentrates on examining every natural

phenomenon that happened, or is currently occurring, in the world by means of

tangible evidences such as natural forces, artifacts, and fossils?

A. Humanities C. Philosophy

B. Natural Science D. Social Science

7. Several intellectuals considered the use of philosophical approach in examining

human societies as an unpleasant continuing impact of the past that is needed

to be opposed by using critical reason, enlightenment, and, if necessary,

revolution. Which of these intellectuals founded Positivism to study our

societies?

A. Auguste Comte C. Herbert Spencer

B. Charles Darwin D. Karl Marx

8. The element of Social Sciences that puts the whole body of knowledge in an

academic mode of inquiry about our societies by means of the scientific method

refers to __________.
A. Empirical Analysis C. Society

B. Nature D. Superstition

9. What is the importance of the Age of Enlightenment in the history of Social

Sciences?

A. It is where the Social Sciences started to become slightly scientific

B. It is where the origins of some of the significant concepts and purposes of

Social Sciences emerged

C. It is where numerous social philosophers used philosophical approaches

in investigating human societies

D. It is where scientific thoughts became more reliable than faith and

superstition in explaining various social phenomena

10.What is the similarity between Social Sciences and Natural Sciences?

A. Both areas utilize the scientific method in creating a study.

B. Both disciplines focus on the creative expressions of human experiences.

C. Both fields concentrate on observing and understanding numerous social

phenomena.

D. Both studies explore the different laws of nature that govern our world

through objective and experimental methods

INTRODUCTION:

What comes into your mind when you hear the word “society”? Technically,

society is usually described as an organized group of individuals whose members

work together or regularly meet and have a shared territory, interest, and way of

living. Likewise, it signifies companionship or association with others. According to

several philosophers, society is the outcome of the purposeful activities of the

people who came together for the achievement of a shared goal. Seems clear, right?

However, do you think it is enough for you to fully understand our society by

merely using these definitions? Of course, it is not enough. Society is too difficult to

study due to its problems and complexities. That is why there is a need for us to

have helpful tools in comprehending these matters.

In this lesson, you will learn about the significance of Social Sciences as
advantageous instruments in studying the different facets of our society and

understanding the burning issues and complications surrounding it. In addition,

you will also recognize the similarities and differences of Social Sciences to other

disciplines such as Natural Sciences and Humanities.

LESSON 1: Social Sciences: The Study of Society

Do you still remember the Battle of Marawi or more popularly known as

Marawi Siege? For historians, it will never be forgotten since this armed conflict is

considered as the longest urban battle in Philippine modern history. This fivemonth-long armed conflict
between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the

BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Great, you finished answering the questions. You may request your

facilitator to check your work. Congratulations and keep on learning!

DISCUSSIONS

militants, including the Maute group and the Abu

Sayyaf that are both associated with the Islamic

State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), had caused over

a thousand casualties and left the beautiful Islamic

City of Marawi in ruins. On October 17, 2017, the

day after the militant leaders of both groups were

reportedly killed during an operation, this battle

finally ended, and Marawi City was liberated.

However, the impact of this urban battle can still

be seen, especially on the people of Marawi City

who lived through its terrors. That is why many

Filipinos are asking about the government’s preparedness for this kind of conflict

and the measures that it is doing to prevent another battle to commence. Luckily,

these questions can be resolved by the various disciplines of Social Sciences, which

investigate the different factors that affect and shape individuals and societies such

as culture, history, politics, and many more. Social Sciences, as the systematic
study of human society, can be considered as helpful tools that provide the

necessary knowledge and skills for us to deeply understand several social

phenomena and, more importantly, to make our world a better place to live in.

SOCIAL SCIENCES

Essentially, the term “Social Sciences” is defined as the body of knowledge

concerned with the methodical study of various aspects of our society, numerous

social phenomena, and the impacts of these occurrences on people’s lives. It is

characterized as the area of study that deals with the human behavior in its

cultural and social facets. Also, it is considered as the branch of science that

focuses on the interpersonal relationships among people living in a society. Over

the past centuries, Social Sciences focused on the contributing factors or elements

that molded and governed the development of the human civilization. Speaking of

elements, what are the important elements of Social Sciences?

ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

As you can see, there are two words comprising the term “Social Sciences.”

These words represent the two substantial elements of Social Sciences, which are

the society (social) and the empirical analysis (science). Society, the first element of

Social Sciences, puts the entire body of knowledge in individuals as social beings

and their social backgrounds or environments. It situates Social Sciences in people

and social issues that are affecting them. On the other hand, empirical analysis

places the Social Sciences in an academic mode of investigation about human

society using the scientific method, the systematic and rational process of

obtaining knowledge. Because of this element, learning about society and

understanding the things that are happening in it need to be conducted

experimentally such as having a keen observation, critical analysis, and

interpretation of social facts, which include data and information about a

particular social phenomenon, identified from the individuals living within a certain

Figure 1: Bombing on Marawi City

https://tl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talaksan:

Bombing_on_Marawi_City.jpg

6
society. This element is also the reason why Social Sciences are recognized as

scientific disciplines, which help people grasp the idea of society and its

complexities. Now, the question is: How Social Sciences started to be recognized as

scientific disciplines?

HISTORY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

The roots of some of the important concepts and purposes of Social Sciences

go completely back to the ancient Greece. The contributions of the ancient Greece

in the area of social thought are still noticeable even up to these days. We have

Social Sciences today because of the Greeks’ willpower to understand everything in

the essence of rational inquiry. Without this determination, the Renaissance and

the Enlightenment, two historical periods where some of the major evolutionary

ideas emerged, would not have served their own respective purposes in the course

of our civilization, especially the Enlightenment (17th-18th century) where the study

of society started to become somewhat scientific.

Before and during the Age of Enlightenment,

the approaches used by several social philosophers in

examining human societies were much more

philosophical than scientific. Numerous philosophes,

the intellectuals or social philosophers who shaped

the 18th century Enlightenment, considered this as a

disagreeable continuing influence of the past that is

needed to be opposed through enlightenment, critical

reason, and, if necessary, revolution. Because of this

new spirit, several important contributions were made for the Social Sciences

during the Age of Enlightenment such as growth when it comes to the

consciousness of the diversity of human experience in our world, spreading sense

of the cultural or social character of human actions within society, and, most

prominently, the development of ideal of a science of society, a distinct area of

study that has its particular distinctive focus of attention.

Although Social Sciences have their own distinguishing

subject matters, these fields utilize the same philosophical

Physical Sciences and Biological Sciences, and that is

Positivism. Positivism is a philosophy that believes that every

single reasonable affirmation can be scientifically proven or

tested by empirical sciences or is capable of mathematical or

logical evidence. Furthermore, it holds that for us to attain a

certain scientific idea, objectivity and practical investigation of

evidences must be observed. This philosophical theory is

guiding Social Sciences in grasping and explaining numerous

social phenomena through systematic observations, critical analyses, and

interpretations of social facts found among the people living in a specific society

such as interpersonal relationships and human activities. Auguste Comte (1798-

1857), the founder of Positivism and the one who foreshadowed the use of this

Figure 2: Philosophes

http://www.stanislasurbietorbi.com/s

tanislas/repas-votaire.htm

Figure 3: Auguste Comte

https://tl.m.wikipedia.org/

wiki/Talaksan:Auguste_Co

mte2.jpg

philosophy in studying human behaviors, argued that metaphysics and theology

are imperfect methods in searching for knowledge; that rational thought is far more

powerful in comparison to faith and superstition in explaining different social

phenomena. He proposed that theism and metaphysics should be rejected since

these modes of knowledge cannot be proven by empirical analysis and, therefore,

are unreliable. Now that you already knew that Social Sciences are also employing

the scientific method in studying their own subject matters, the next question is:

What makes Social Sciences different from other disciplines like Natural Sciences

and Humanities?

NATURAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

areas of study such as Natural Sciences and

Humanities is that these disciplines concentrate on

analyzing and explaining the different aspects of social

life of the individuals including their behaviors. Also,

these fields focus on observing and interpreting

various social phenomena. On the other hand,

Natural Sciences, or the sciences of nature, give

attention on investigating every single natural

phenomenon that occurred, or is currently happening,

in our world using tangible evidences like natural forces, fossils, and artifacts.

These areas of study explore the laws of nature that rule our world through

objective and empirical approaches. Also, Natural Sciences can be further

categorized into Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Earth Sciences and many

more. Humanities, differently, are academic disciplines that study numerous

human conditions and the manners wherein the human experiences are treated

and recorded. Additionally, these studies aim to comprehend the human

perspective of individuals’ social existence and the responses these people are

displaying on different occurrences. For instance, the literary works of Jose Rizal,

such as Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, aim to educate the Filipinos on the

persecutions experienced by our countrymen during the Spanish regime.

Even though these three fields of study are different from one another, they

are also sharing a few similarities in some areas. Social Sciences, Natural Sciences,

and Humanities are all employing the scientific method in producing knowledge,

though this systematic process is more usual in Social Sciences and Natural

Sciences since Humanities are more focused on the creative expressions of human

experiences. When it comes to the similarity between Social Sciences and

Humanities, some of the disciplines of Social Sciences are also affiliated with

Humanities such as Anthropology, Linguistics, and, especially, History. History is

considered as the borderline to the two fields of knowledge since its methods and

insights penetrate both Social Sciences and Humanities.