New Dimensions in Sociology A Physico-Chemical Approach to Human Behavior by Mirza Arshad Ali Beg; Karachi: Hamdard Foundation Press, 1987.

Abstract

Let us start with the title of the book. Its first part is hardly exciting.
Several sociology publications currently carry similar titles: New Horizons
in Sociology, New Directions in Sociology, New Debates in Sociology, or
merely New Sociology. It seems that most people writing about sociology
these days must write something new or not write at all.
What is new about this book can be seen from the second part of its
tille, A Physico-Chemical Approach 10 Human Behavior-eye-catching, even
startling. There have been organic, evolutionary, and ecological analogies
used by sociologists in the past, often with great success. However, physicochemical
analogy is something else. If, by using this title. Dr. Beg had in
mind to shock sociologists into reading his book from cover to cover, he
must be congratulated, for, no doubt, the title is intriguing, to say the least.
The contents do not reveal too much about the book. However, they
must not be taken lightly. Wi.lson (1975) produced yet another "new" and asserted
that human values, even customs and traditions, are genetically transmitted
from one generation to another. Since then, he has won a number of adherents
to his point of view. So here it is: a physico-chemical approach to sociology.
If Harvard publishes treatises like Wilson's Sociobiology, how can we reject
Hamdard's New Dimensions as being out of hand? After all , Wilson is a
zoologist with hardly a flair for sociology in his dossier.
The author of this book, Mirza Arshad Ali Beg, is a trained and
experienced chemist with graduate degrees from Karachi (MSc.) and British
Columbia (Ph.D.). He began in 1941 as a senior research officer at the Pakistan
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) and in 1985 became
the director of its facilities in Karachi. Since then, he has been promoted
to the secretarial rank in this organization. Dr. Beg has also held several
important posts in national and international organizations.
Apparently, Dr. Beg is a qualified, experienced researcher in chemistry.
As such, it is to his credit that in this book he has ventured far afield from
his area of specialization. This book is a testimony to the fact that sociology
is not, has not been, and must not be the exclusive domain of sociologists.
All throughout its relatively brief history, sociology has benefitted from the
contributions of historians, philosophers, psychologists, even engineers. Thus,
if a chemist is trying his hand this time, we must not be too shocked ...