Sociology relates to social sciences as geometry relates to physics.

Evidence

Grammar studies the pure forms of language, abstracted from the linguistic contents through which these forms come to life. Logic and epistemology study the pure forms of knowing, abstracted from the multitude of cognitions of particular things. Geometry studies pure spatial forms, abstracted from the physical objects which embody them. Sociology as the science of social forms relates to the special sciences which deal with the various contents of social life, such as economic activity, sexual behavior, education, law, or religion, much as geometry relates to the various physical sciences. — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 45

Categorization

• DEFINE: The ‘geometry of social forms’ analogy — a clean, citable characterisation of Simmel’s method.
• XREF: connects to: Sociology studies abstract forms of interaction as geometry studies spatial forms — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 200; Sociology treats psychological processes only as carriers of social forms — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 208; A science of society must study only forms of interaction — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 196 (+2 more)

Related

• Sociology studies abstract forms of interaction as geometry studies spatial forms (similarity 0.94)
• A science of society must study only forms of interaction (similarity 0.90)
• Sociology’s proper object is the forms relating two or more individuals (similarity 0.88)
• Sociology treats psychological processes only as carriers of social forms (similarity 0.87)
• Social relations can be analyzed purely as formal configurations (similarity 0.86)
• Simmel advanced technical sociology mainly as a byproduct of metaphysical concerns (similarity 0.83)
• The formal content distinction in sociology can only be illustrated, not yet defined (similarity 0.81)
• Any social group can act as individual or aggregate depending on its relational frame. (similarity 0.81)
• Society names both actual human networks and the abstract forms of sociality (similarity 0.80)
• Sociology is one method among many, not a master science (similarity 0.80)

Broader Connections

• Sociology studies abstract forms of interaction as geometry studies spatial forms #expands (0.85) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 200
• Social relations can be analyzed purely as formal configurations #expands (0.60) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 208
• A science of society must study only forms of interaction #expands (0.55) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 196
• Sociology treats psychological processes only as carriers of social forms #expands (0.50) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 208
• Society names both actual human networks and the abstract forms of sociality #expands (0.50) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 896