Klasyfikacja dyscyplin szczegółowych, ich wyróżnianie, uzasadnianie potrzeby istnienia, a w konsekwencji także rozwijanie, jest jednym z ciekawszych problemów metodologicznych nauk empirycznych. W artykule przedstawione zostaną różne strategie wyróżniania subdyscyplin socjologicznych. Rozważania te będą punktem wyjścia do określenia obecnego statusu naukowego socjologii morskiej jako odrębnej dyscypliny szczegółowej.

The author discusses systematization of scientific disciplines. He presents two methods of systematization, namely: classification which uses logical divisions, and typologization which relies on Weberian method of defining ideal types. Faced with certain weaknesses of the classification and typologization, the author proposes still another method of science systematization, which he calls ‘theoretical positioning’. Such systematization is accomplished by defining a selected theory with respect to the research processes employed in it. At the time when interdisciplinary studies are becoming more and more popular, theoretical positioning is a useful method of systematization for research purposes. It arranges scientific disciplines in an order that displays their theoretical affinities. That method of systematization not only organizes the multitude of scientific disciplines but also indicates which areas of cooperation can be most promising. Alongside that study, the author also discusses the possibility of theoretical positioning of sciences by employing conceptual categories used in theory of action which, appropriately conceptualized, could serve as effective interdisciplinary instruments.