Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)

1. Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) “Man's characteristic privilege is that the bond he accepts is not physical but moral; that is, social. He is governed not by a material environment brutally imposed on him, but by a conscience superior to his own, the superiority of which he feels. Because the greater, better part of his existence transcends the body, he escapes the body's yoke, but is subject to that of society.” http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Emile_Durkheim.jpg

2. Life and childhood • Born in Lorraine April 15, 1858 • Son of a prominent Rabbi • Raised in strict Jewish fashion • Early schooling in a rabbinical school • Decided not to become a rabbi • Eventually became agnostic • Schooled in many prestigious schools • College d'Epinal • Lycee Louis-Le-Grand in Paris • EcoleNormaleSuperieure Life and childhood

3. Early Influences • Charles Renouvier-philosopher • Emile Boutoux-philosopher • Numas-Denis Fustel de Coulanges-historian Rebelled against the generlalized education • Preferred training in scientific methods and moral principles "The metaphysician" Early influences

4. Became an instructor of philosophy at the University of Bordeaux in 1887 • Offered the first course in social science in a French university. • Taught teaching classes to educators and believed in the morality of education Married Louise Dreyfus • Two children Marie & Andre Early adulthood

5. The Division of Labor in Society • Unity and solidarity • Modern society capable in principle of rational integration while providing an environment for individual autonomy • The Rules of Sociological Method • Formalization of the frameworks from The Division of Labor • Le Suicide • First application of the scientific method to study social phenomena • Suicide is an individual and antisocial act, which can be understood sociologically • Sociology is capable of understanding the rates of suicide and the factors which help determine such rates • Full professorship at Bordeaux Published works

6. L'AnneeSociologique • First social science journal in France • Led to the Durkheimian approach to sociology Individual and Collective Representations • Paper outlining the "manifesto" for the Durkheimian School The Elementary Forms of Religious Life • Society could not exist independently of religious forms of sentiment and action • The basis of religion lies in a social basis L’aneesociologique

7. Later Adulthood • Full professorship at the Sorbonne in 1902. • Education chair in the Science of Education • Later renamed by Durkheim the Science of Education and Sociology • Andre Durkheim, who was Emile's son and bright linguist was killed in April 1916 during WWI. Emile Durkheim never recovered and suffered a stroke, dying a year later on November 15, 1917 Later adulthood

8. Rousseau • VolanteGenerale (general will) influenced Durkheim's idea of "solidarity" • Solidarity has body (organic component) and an attitude/sentiment (feeling of belonging) component. Functionalism and social psychological effect • "Man is himself only in and through society. If man were not a part of society, he would be an animal like the rest" • Durkheim disagreed with Rousseau on the thought that the political state was the essence of society. Durkheim believed that politics were borne of many influences on man • Montesquieu • Interrelatedness of social phenomena. The connectedness of social and cultural phenomena • Belief that elements of society must be understood in context rather than by themselves • Law and morality, trade, social structure, culture, religion etc… The french tradition

9. Renouvier • Rationalism that believed in a scientific approach to socialness and morality while maintaining the idea of individual autonomy • Durkheim disagreed with Renouvier's rejection of historical laws and society • Agreed with ethical and moral considerations are a central role in philosophy • That there is a need for science of ethics • Philosophy should guide social action • Moral unity • Gabriel Tarde • "Imitation" • Aggregater of individuals in action and human behavior was imitated at a social level from the actions of leaders. • Durkheim instead believed that society is a reality and behavior must be structurally based instead of social-psychological The french tradition

10. Saint-Simon • Ideas on socialistm • Durkheim states "for all of us, all that is essential in socialist doctrine is found in the philosophy of Saint-Simon" • Influenced Durkheim's belief in the ability to create an organic order of peace and stability by instituting the proper moral ideas • Positivism (Saint-Simon being more consistent with positivism than Comte) • Comte • Recognized the division of labor as a source of solidarity. • Durkheim believed in the division of labor as a way of binding people together and creating dependency • "Consensus" influenced Durkheim's notion of "collective conscience" • Durkheim disagreed with Comtes "theological" ideas or metaphysics • Did not like Comte's conception of social order with conservative values • Durkheim advocated a distinction between cosmic and secular order, believing in secular order as the solution • Durkheim didn't view Comte as a sociologist but a philosopher The french tradition

11. The English Liberal Tradition • Major liberal themes included: • Constitutional regulation and balance of powers • Parliamentary government • Economic individualism • Market economy • Minimal government The english liberal tradition

12. Herbert Spencer • Highly influential on Durkheim's Division of Labor • Praised Spencer's classification of society as an organic or "natural" entity • Durkheim's evolutionary views come from Spencer • Durkheim's view that evolution is a movement from systems of mechanical to systems of organic solidarity (this is analogous to Spencer's movement from incoherent homogeneity to coherent heterogeneity ) • Durkheim did not view Spencer as a sociologist but as a philosopher • Durkheim was not impressed by Spencer's particular social theories, especially the individualistic premises because Durkheim did not believe in self-interest maintaining social order • Also believed that individuals property should reflect their contributions to society and not inheritance • Durkheim created a new doctrine that synthesized the needs of the working class but upheld the tradition work ethic idealism of the democratic middle class The english tradition

13. German Idealism • Durkheim published numerous critical reviews of German thinkers such as: • Simmel • Schaffle • Gumplowicz • Toennies • In particular Toennies Gemeinschaft und Gesellschaft is an influence on Durkheim's distinction between organic and mechanical societies German idealism

14. Immanuel Kant • Once expanded rationalism then rejected the concept of ultimate rationalism • Durkheim was most influenced by Kant's commitment to the examination of moral duty • Durkheim's sociological outlook was an extension of Kant's notion of duty and moral obligation. • "everything which is the source of solidarity is moral, everything which forces man to take account of other men is moral, everything which forces him to regulate his conduct through something other than the surviving of his ego is moral, and morality is as solid as these ties are numerous and strong" German idealism

15. Wilhelm Wundt • Father of experimental psychology • Durkheim was impressed by Wundt's commitment to scientific methodology and the research conducted at his famous laboratory in Leipzig • Agreed with Wundt's "Volkseele" (the group soul) which Durkheim substituted for "Volksgeist" This view is similar to the concept of collective conscience • Also believed in Wundt's explanation that moral phenomena must be treated as "facts of social existence" • Social facts as "things" German idealism

16. Labeled as • “Father of Functionalism” • “Father of French Sociology” • “Founder of Modern Sociology” • First Full Professor of Sociology Concepts & Contributions

17. Mechanical Solidarity • Primitive society which has no differentiated social structure • No division of labor Organic Solidarity • Modern society arises from the difference in the economic and social structure. • High division and specialized labor The Division in Labor/Solidarity

18. Defined as the bond between all individuals within a society • As society become more technologically advanced there has to be more specialization and increased division in labor • This specialization causes a shift in the way people relate to each other. Division in Labor/Solidarity

19. 2 types of Solidarity • Mechanical Solidarity - Primitive societies • Similarities and generalisms • Organic Solidarity - Modern societies • Specialization of people • A need for the services of others Social Implications of Specialization • Values and norms change and subcultures emerge Division in labor/Solidarity

20. “The totality of beliefs and sentiments common to average citizens of the same society forms a determinate system which has its own life; one may call the collective or common conscience.” Collective conscience

21. Primitive societies • Laws are harsh, intense, rigid, and universally shared. • Law is repressive and the deviant is severally punished Modern societies • Laws are less harsh, less punitive, less intensely felt, and less shared. • Punishment is enforced by issuing fines Collective Conscience

22. Agents of socialization of norms/moral facts • Institutions teach norms • Family • Religion • Occupation The more division in labor, the more individualism becomes the moral compass of modern society Collective conscience

23. Sociology grew from philosophy and must separate itself and become a science. Social Phenomenon should be studied empirically using the scientific method. Methodology

24. Provided an example of a sociology study that emphasized social facts rather than individual experiences. Rates of suicide varied from country to country and there appeared to be a different “predisposition to suicide” in different societies. Study of Suicide (1897)

25. Four types of suicide • Egoistic • Low degree of integration • Society has excessive individualism, separation from society and the individual • Altruistic • High degree of integration • Society forces people into killing themselves, lack of individualism and duty to country • Anomic • Low regulation • Society is faced with economic disaster, despair or changing social status • Fatalistic – High regulation and external constraints Study of Suicide (1897)

26. Nothing more than collective representations of the overwhelming power of society. Religion is highly social and serves as a bonding function and identification for the individuals within a society. Religion provides for: • Meaning in life • Authority figures • Reinforces the morals and social norms Religion

27. Moral ideas and sentiments are to be preserved but historical bonds with religion must be broken. Educational institutions and wider society should forge and create a new sense of morality that emphasizes rights, privileges, and duties Morality

28. Durkheim opposed socialism and tried to construct a model of society that was in opposition to Marx. Even though Durkheim opposes socialism he believes that people who acquire too much wealth have a greater likelihood of becoming corrupt, which is a function of socialism. Socialism

29. Functionalist perspective views society as a sum total of the large number of persons, groups, organizations and social institutions. Society is a system, and its parts contribute to its stability and continued existence. Parts of the society are interconnected and try to meet the demands of each of the parts. Functionalism

30. Durkheim’s view of crime was that it serves as a function to help unite society's' members. • A action does not shock the conscience collective because it is a crime but the action is a crime because it shocks the conscience collective. • Punishment of violators reminds society as a whole to not risk deviating from the law. • Punishment also reaffirms the sense of morality within a society. Crime

31. Crime and Law • A society of Mechanical Solidarity is characterized by repressive law and crime would be punished severely. • A society of Organic Solidarity is characterized by restitutive law or trying to reintegrate the criminal back into society after treatment. Crime

32. Attempted to mold events to put his principles into practice. • He founded and edited “L’AnneeSociologique” a professional sociological periodical. • He provided the basic schematic for structural and functional analysis in sociology, and insisted on the usage of empirical methodology, so that sociology could accurately claim itself as a science. Relevancy

33. Durkheim hoped that scientific sociology would help create a moral re-education in the Third Republic and at the same time replace religion as the source of morality within a secular morality. • He became the secretary of the Committee for the Publication of studies and documents on the war, publishing several pamphlets attacking pan-Germanism, to help France in WWI. Relevancy

34. He lost his son Andre, who had followed his father to EcoleNormale to pursue a promising career as a sociological linguist. The death hit him hard and was able to write very little afterwards and eventually died at the age of 59. • Durkhiem’s works and thoughts continued to be relevant and significant in the third millennium. • Rober Merton expanded Durkheim’s functional approach through his manifest and latent functions, utilizing the term dysfunctional as it applies to social systems and the creation of Anomie Theory. Relevancy

35. As initially developed by Durkheim the concept of anomie refers to a condition of relative normlessness, in a society or group. The core of Durkheim’s theory lies with the concept of social fact, especially with such nonmaterial social facts as the collective conscience, collective representations and social currents. Relevancy

36. Durkheim was very concerned with what he perceived as the lack of morality in French society, but its safe to say that in all societies today and in the future we will wrestle with the issue of morality. • “Cult of Personality”- taking over for religion. • Crime serves a functional role in society because it helps to promote social change when a violation of a law caused such a public outrage that demands for change occurred. (Example, Rosa Parks) Relevancy

37. It can be argued that Durkheim envisioned globalization, “Global Solidarity.” Emile Durkheim was and remains one of the greatest social thinkers of all time and his works will remain relevant well into the third millennium. Relevancy