The methodology and subject matter in sociology of the founding fathers of Ibn Khaldoun and Auguste Comte: A comparative study

Abstract

AbstractThis study provides a discussion about the contributions and efforts made by Ibn Khaldoun and Auguste Comte to develop sociology in terms of subject matter and methodology. Since they are the founding fathers of this science, this paper shows their interpretation of the social phenomena. The study is also exposed to the reasons that led Ibn Khaldoun and Auguste Comte to study sociology. Accordingly, the research peculiarity required using historical, comparative, and critical approaches.The central problem of this study is how Ibn Khaldoun and Auguste Comte deal with the development of sociology and its independence from other sciences. The study results showed the accordance of both Ibn Khaldoun and Auguste Comte in terms of the methodology of sociology as being a positive approach consisting of observation and induction. Ibn Khaldoun's distinction, due to his five-century precedence, is vivid though. The results of the study also showed that Ibn Khaldoun and Auguste Comte differed greatly in terms of the divisions of sociology (subject matter of sociology): where Ibn Khaldoun divided the subject of sociology into multiple sections, each section includes a set of homogeneous social phenomena in peculiarity. Ibn Khaldoun studied the phenomenon by mingling the static aspect and dynamic one together, analyzing its parts, elements, and functions and at the same time studying its development and the laws to which it is subject to development. However, Auguste Comte has divided the social phenomenon into two main parts: Social dynamics and social statics.