The Sociology reference article from the Simple Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004
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Sociology

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Sociology is the study of societies and how humans act in groups.  Auguste Comte (1789 - 1857) was first to use the term. 

Industrial society was an early focus. Karl Marx, Ferdinand Toennies (Ferdinand Tönnies]], Max Weber and Emile Durkheim were leading figures. Themes included: community, authority, status, and the sacred. âÀÜAlienationâÀÝ (isolation and lack of power) was also a subject.

Today sociology looks at such things as: race, ethnicity, class, gender, the family and social interaction. It also studies the breakdown of social structures; crime and divorce.