Scientific profile of sociology

Abstract

   The question of scientific status of sociology according to critical reception of definition of sociology given by A. Giddens and N. Smelser is considered in the present article. It is emphasized that the problem of the subject of sociology has not yet been solved despite the diversity and plurality of opinions. In definition given by Giddens and Smelser the emphasis is on the study of society by sociology, and not on the subject of sociology. To say that sociology scientifically studies society, social groups and relations, expresses only our cognitive-scientific approach to the subject of study, but not the essence of sociology as a science. It is known that science determines and studies a regularity that should be reflected in the definition of sociology at least indirectly, if not directly. Otherwise, we will lose sociology as a science. So it would be desirable to emphasize this fact in the definition of sociology, namely, to say that, unlike other sciences, sociology explores laws and regularities of the existence, functioning and variability of society, social groups, social formations, even of person and so on, as of integral formations.