capitalization

[okok]

Should the word "Buddhism" be capitalized in the following sentence, and why only it and not the others?

They learned sociology, Buddhism and computer science.

Thanks in advance

[Anglika]

Buddhism is capitalized because it is a proper name : the name of a particular person, place or thing; whereas "sociology" and "computer science" are general terms.

[okok]

Originally Posted by Anglika

Buddhism is capitalized because it is a proper name : the name of a particular person, place or thing; whereas "sociology" and "computer science" are general terms.

Thank you.

What bothers me here is that "sociology" is, as I see it, a general term, but the name of a specific scientific discipline, just as Buddhism is a name of a specific religion (or whatever is right to call it). I fail to understand the logic or the principle.

[Anglika]

In this context, I would see both "sociology" and "computer science" as generalized terms for the field of information being taught, just as you have used religion with a lowercase initial. If they were within a list of disciplines in a college brochure, you could argue for capitalization : "There are courses in Sociology, Bhuddism, and Computer Science".

It is true that until the start of the 19th century, nouns were generally capitalized in English. If you choose to do so nowadays, it may look odd, but there is nothing fundamentally incorrect about it.

[okok]

Thank you very much.