Often cited as the Father of Sociology, Emile Durkheim is one of the most influential sociologists of his time. The principles Durkheim discussed in the late 1800s and early 1900s are still applicable to the deliberations that plague society today. Durkheim set forth with items that refined Auguste Comte’s ideas of positivism. Durkheim was deeply concerned with the expanding of Sociology as a methodology in its own right and also set forth the idea of the Rules of Sociological Method. Emile Durkheim is truly responsible for the creation and adoption of Sociology as a Social Science. Thanks to Durkheim, we have the ability to study Sociology and apply the Sociological Method to problems to find resolutions that are both rewarding and logical.

The Rules of Sociological Method

Durkheim published The Rules of Sociological Method in 1895. There were two main points that Durkheim made in regards to Sociology. He wanted to distinguish Sociology from the other Social Sciences. First, Durkheim said that it must have a specific object of study. This meant unlike psychology or philosophy sociology’s proper study was based on social facts. These facts were of utmost importance as the study of sociology relies heavily on data and proof. Unlike other studies that were based on conjecture , sociology would and does focus on the true facts of the matter. After applying facts, only then can one make inferences as to why the world behaves as it does.

Secondly, it must respect and apply a recognized objective scientific method. This was an attempt to bring it as close as possible to the other exact sciences (math, physics, etc.) The purpose of this is to avoid prejudice or the ability to skew the results in the favor of one item over another. In mirroring the processes as closely to exact sciences, Sociology gives the ability to quantify and analyze culture and social phenomena while remaining unbiased.

Durkheim: Collective Consciousness

Durkheim focused heavily on aspects of what exactly held societies together. He suggested that society was held together by a belief system that relied on people to behave a certain way based off of values beliefs and Social Norms.

Durkheim wrote that. “The totality of beliefs and sentiments common to the average members of a society forms a determinate system with a life of its own. It can be termed the collective or common consciousness.” By society establishing an understanding of right and wrong, people within that society were bound to behave as society intends and to do other than that would make the offender an outsider.

Durkheim’s Influence

If it were not for Emile Durkheim, Sociology may not exist as it does today. We here at Sociology365 are very grateful for the influence of Emile Durkheim, and we think that you should be too. Durkheim has many other contributions to Sociology on topics of Religion and Suicide which will be conferred in future discussions. For now, just think of all that would have been missed and where the social sciences would be today, if not for the great undertaking of Emile Durkheim.

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