Question
I want to ask sociology’s most important question: How are society and social order possible, and what helps society to be cohesive and whole? Sociologists have been asking this question for centuries, with Thomas Hobbes first asking it in 1651. The question of how society and social order exist may interest the sociologist because it is fundamental, and the answer will help people better understand the structure of society.
Theory
In my opinion, a more appropriate theoretical approach to this question is the structural-functional approach. This theory assumes that society is viewed as a system, the processes in the system are considered in terms of the relationship of its parts, the system is considered limited and seeks equilibrium. The structural-functional theoretical approach is ideally suited to the given question because the two components of this approach complement each other and help to answer the question most precisely. The structural approach emphasizes the aspect of social structure (integrity, interrelated elements, reproduction processes), and the functional emphasizes the part of the social organization of society, society as a whole.
Using the theoretical approach, the researcher can observe that society functions automatically through a process of self-regulation and that the functioning of society is possible through the interaction of its parts, such as the economy, the state, the family and others. Each of these components is equally important and disruption of one of them will lead to dysfunction of all components. This conclusion confirms the basic premises of structural functionalism.
Method
I believe that sociological observation is the most appropriate research method for answering the question of how society and social order might exist. Sociologists can only accurately establish how society and the social order function through sociological observation. In sociology, observation refers to collecting primary sociological information about the object under study through direct, systematic, directed perception and direct recording of events significant in terms of research goals and objectives. This research method will help study people’s behavior and understand how society functions because, with the help of sociological observation, one can understand the nature of people’s behavior.
Structural functionalists approach society from a macro-level perspective; they view society and its parts as a whole. It is necessary to select a certain group of people and observe their behavior in society and interaction with each other to conduct such a study. Through observation, it can be determined that people maintain the components of society and regulate each other themselves. Individuals work to support the country’s economy; they contribute and then receive material goods in return. If people stop working and get money for nothing, all currencies will devalue, and chaos will ensue. It can be concluded that the interaction of its main components governs society. If one component, such as the economy, does not function, society immediately takes on a different appearance, and social order does not exist. Therefore, it is very important to understand how society works in the modern world and to know that each component is equally important; otherwise, the human population will return to its original state.