“𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 : 𝗢𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆, 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆”

Special Lecture Session on

“Sociology : Ontology, Epistemology and Methodology”

The Discourse is delighted to declare the successful commencement of our Special Lecture session graced by our Speaker Prof. Vivek Kumar from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and Presided over by Prof. O.P. Bharatiya, Head of Department of Sociology, at the Faculty of Social

Sciences, BHU.

Prof. Vivek Kumar started by sharing his thoughts regarding taking Sociology of Classes and making it Sociology of Masses, by taking it to the grassroots. Thereafter, he took us on a deep dive

into the header topics, interestingly though in reverse order.

Before elaborating on Methodology, Sir took a moment to distinguish it from Method, which is erroneously thought of as the same. Soon after, he took us over to Methodology and its three parts— subject matter, procedure and concept, and limitations. Then he explained methodological holism and methodological individualism, and the application of both.

Moving on, by exemplifying the topic of the subject matter of celebrated sociologists like Durkheim, Weber and Strauss, Sir headed towards Epistemology. He mentioned Ted Benton and asked what can be known with certainty and what can be left to faith. Being social scientists, it's

the certainty over which he emphasised.

Thus arises the question of how to find what is certain. Sir explained himself, in four ways— Rationalism, starting from Rene Descartes, encourages questioning until satisfied. Empiricism, by John Locke, is based on observation by 5 senses. The confluence of both, as put forward by

Emmanuel Kant, is another approach. Understanding of a Person's Internality, proposed by Wilhelm Dilthy, adds another dimension to the already mentioned paths.

Next, Sir reached Ontology. Under the header, he explained the two kinds of assumed reality— singular and multiple. The singular reality believers form the Realist School, which focuses on

Observation and Generalisation. Whereas, the assumers of multiple realities form the Relativistic School, which focuses on Interpretation and Understanding. Sir explained how understanding of

this forms the foundation before embarking on research work. He mentioned Durkheim again while encouraging the audience to discover the reality out in the world.

Taking us towards the conclusion, Sir mentioned Roger Nett, and explained that science is an approach to knowledge which is more organised and calculated than ordinary inclination.’ He also succinctly explained how to turn an ordinary inclination into an organised and calculated approach.

Lastly, Sir motivated all attending the lecture to become an exemplary sociologist. Thus he focused that being good only in Methods will make one a good data collector, meanwhile having command over these three– Ontology, Epistemology and Methodology — one shall become a good social

scientist.

With regards,

The Discourse

A Student Centric Society, B.H.U.