What are the contributions of Henri Saint Simon in the field of sociology?

Answer 1

Saint Simon contribution to the field of sociology, was his appreciation of the fact that industrialism marked a new phase in the history of mankind. In his opinion a new world had emerge and he wanted to offer some ideas on how this new world should be operated. In this new world of industrialism everybody had to work. In pre-industrial France, rich people known as aristocrats like Simon himself and Priest did not work but had the rest of the society working for them. In this new world of industrialism, Saint Simon believes that, everybody should work to contribute their quota to the development of the industrial society. To him, every individual has a unique skill deposited in him that he can use to help develop the society therefore, the need for everybody to work. According to Simon, there are three main categories of people with different capacities with which they can use to benefit society first group is the more intellectually developed people who he believes should be scientists, the second group is the more emotionally developed people who he believes should be artist and poets and the third group is the more motor oriented who he believes should be workers and organizers. According to him the best among each group should be selected leaders in the country and the rest of the population should be their followers.

Henri also suggested that society had been aided by three stages in its development i.e theological stage, metaphysical stage and scientific stage.

Answer 2

Henri de Saint-Simon is considered one of the founding figures of sociology. He emphasized the importance of social organization and advocated for a more scientifically informed society. Saint-Simon also introduced the concept of industrialism and its impact on social structures and relationships.