SOCIO-CULTURAL CHANGES IN WEST EUROPE AND SOCIOLOGY AS A BRANCH OF SCIENCE

The subject of this work is the socio-cultural changes in West Europeand the emerge of sociology as a branch of science. These changes are, deep-rooted intellectual transformations, fast social changes, social problems and the French revolution. The modern science that developed as the universe turned into an object before the subject, the trust that enlightenment put in this science, and modern methodology of thought which the idea of advancement gave birth to, has resulted in a vast scientific and cultural accumulation of knowledge. The interacting processes such as colonization, commercial capitalism, central government, the emergence of bourgeoisie, industrial capitalism, nation state, the rise of the working class has led to social changes and bigger social problems with an increasing momentum. The outcome of the French revolution has shown that it is not possible to establish social order based on rationality by eradicating traditional institutions. What is necessary, therefore, is to develop a social science by discovering the rules of society. Sociology has emerged from the necessity of the search of established order and finding a solution to the social problems that the west has experienced in the 19th century.