About

Born in 1858, Durkheim became one of the founding figures of modern sociology and is often referred to as the "father of sociology. " Durkheim's most influential work focused on the study of social facts, which he defined as the social structures, norms, and values that exist outside of individuals and shape their behavior. He argued that social facts have a significant impact on individuals' lives and that studying them is essential for understanding society. One of Durkheim's most famous studies was on suicide, where he investigated the social factors that led individuals to take their own lives. His findings challenged prevailing theories that attributed suicide solely to individual psychological factors and instead demonstrated the importance of social factors such as social integration and social regulation. Durkheim also explored the role of religion in society, highlighting its functions in promoting social cohesion and moral order. He argued that religion provides individuals with a collective consciousness that strengthens social bonds and helps maintain social order. In addition, Durkheim contributed to the study of education, law, and deviance. He believed that education played a crucial role in socializing individuals and transmitting societal values. Similarly, he examined the role of law in maintaining social order and explored the functions of deviance in challenging societal norms and driving social change. Durkheim's work had a profound impact on the field of sociology and influenced numerous theorists and researchers who followed him. His emphasis on social facts and the importance of studying them paved the way for the development of structural functionalism, a major sociological perspective. Emile Durkheim died in 1917, leaving behind a rich legacy of sociological thought that continues to shape the field to this day. His contributions to understanding society, social order, and the role of social facts remain influential and continue to be studied and debated by sociologists worldwide.