How Did Émile Durkheim Contribute To Our Understanding Of Sociology?

598 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Relationship between urbanization and industrialization

The second factor is the Enlightenment; which took place during the 18th century and focused on “ideals such as equality, liberty, and fundamental human rights” (Chambliss, 2017, p. 9). It was these fundamental ideas that later inspired the American and French revolutions in the late 18th century (Enlightenment, 2009). Philosophers during the Enlightenment also thought that the only way for society to grow was to apply science to our everyday lives. One important philosopher was Émile Durkheim. Durkheim thought the only way for people to reach their full potential is by having a firm understanding of sociology (Chambliss, 2017, p.9). The third and fourth factors were industrialization and urbanization. These factors together made up the Industrial Revolution; which took place in the mid-18th century in Europe and the United States (Chambliss, 2017, p.9). Industrialization takes place when an area that is primarily supported by agriculture is changed to one that is supported by industry (Radcliffe, 2014). Urbanization is when many people move from rural areas to urban areas to find work (Chambliss, 2017, p.9). Even though industrialization and urbanization is great for the economy it has its disadvantages. Sociologist Émile Durkheim feared that the social glue of society would fall …show more content…

Sociology was the first social science of its kind so early sociologists used the methods and terms of natural science as a guideline. For example, Durkheim used social facts to back up and support his claims (Chambliss, 2017, p.12). Which is the same as gathering data and conducting research in a natural science experiment. Sociologists use “…methods of observing, classifying, generalizing (making hypotheses), verifying, and systematizing” to gather research to create a sociological theory or notice a trend (Brian, 1947, p.

Show More
Related

  • Invitation to Sociology: A Classic Overview

    627 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sociology is a science because methodological study is used to study the behavior of people in society in their environment. The same steps using the scientific method in a research process: observation, hypothesis testing, data analysis, and generalization is used when conducting sociological research.

    Read More

  • Social Research

    1830 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sociologists researchers first make ontological assumptions. That is to say, they decide what they are studying or what should be studied. They decide what the subject matter consists of and the meanings behind it. They must consider the social reality and the nature of being, in relation to the subject matter.

    Read More

  • Industrialization In The Musical Oliver, And The Industrial Revolution

    1219 Words  | 3 Pages

    Starting in the mid 1700s and continuing to the late 1850s, arguably still ongoing today, industrialization is centered on the development of machinery and urbanization. This new era found its roots in Great Britain, and later in the entirety of Western Europe once the French Revolution and the Congress of Vienna were resolved. Development was essential in Great Britain simply because it was not connected to continental Europe and Britain had the resources, like coal, to fuel the industrial revolution. Once the idea of industrialization was sparked, it burned like wildfire and spread to the rest of Europe. The results of industrialization were exceptional and robust; calling for others to join.

    Read More

  • Catalysts of the Industrial Revolution

    569 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Industrial Revolution was the major advancement of technology in the late 18th and early 19th century that began in Britain and spread to America.The national and federal government helped the United States grow into a self reliant nation with improvements in transportation, technology, manufacturing and the growth of the population.

    Read More

  • Age Of Reform Essay

    1450 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Industrial Revolution began over two centuries ago and has had a major impact on every current world power. It began in a group of islands off the North West coast of Europe and has been imitated or tried by every nation looking to increase its wealth and power throughout the world. Industrialization came out of the basic ideas of capitalism because it fostered individuals who were willing to take high risks in hopes of high returns on their investments. These investments included factories and machines that would be put to use by people to better their standard of living. These entrepreneurs would return their profits back to the expansion and improvement of their factories and machines.

    Read More

  • Strengths And Weaknesses Of Emile Durkheim

    758 Words  | 2 Pages

    Emile Durkheim was born in 1858 in the region of France known as the Alsace-Lorraine. His father, grandfather, and great-grandfather had all been rabbis, however Durkheim quickly decided against following into the rabbinate early in his youth (Jones 1986). Durkheim excelled in science as a student, however his weakness in studying Latin and rhetoric caused him to fail the entrance exams to Ecole twice before he passed (Jones 1986). Durkheim trained to be a teacher at Ecole, as well as participated in lively debates, in which he advocated for the republican cause (Jones 1986). It was also at this time that Durkheim first read Comte and Spencer (Calhoun 2002). It was partially through these sources that Durkheim came to view social science and culture as an organic whole. Durkheim then went to

    Read More

  • Durkheim's Conception Of Social Theories

    1200 Words  | 3 Pages

    SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY Take Home Exam One Questions 5 and 6 By Shylynn E. Calbert MW 5:45-7pm DR. FORD 5. Discuss abortion using applications of Durkheim?s conception of social facts. How would Durkheim research the issue and explain it in sociological terms?

    Read More

  • Karl Marx And Durkheim

    2731 Words  | 6 Pages

    Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim are considered the founding fathers of sociology and both had profound influence on the development of sociology. However, some may say that they differ dearly in their views about society. Although there are differences in outlooks between the two, one thing noticeable is Marx and Durkheim shared the same concern over society and its development. They were both, in particular concerned with the rise of the modern system of division of labour and the evolution of market society taking place in the domain of modern capitalism. Both approached these developments by introducing a theory of their own to shed light on the effects that modern capitalism had on solidarity and on society’s ability to reproduce itself. More so, to understand and solve the problems arose as the societies in which they lived moved from a pre-industrial to an industrial state. For Marx, one of the serious problems arose in this was what he termed alienation. On the other, for Durkheim it was what he called anomie. The purpose of this essay is to examine the underlying differences of these two notions and in hope that it may help us to better understand the different visions of society developed by these two great social thinkers. Firstly, we start off with Marx’s idea of alienation. Secondly, what anomie means to Durkheim. Then a comparison will be done on the two concepts, evaluating the similarities and differences between the two. Lastly, we will finally come to conclude how the concept of alienation differs from the concept of anomie.

    Read More

  • The Ideology of Karl Marx on Sociology

    831 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sociology emerged from the desire of humans to understand our behaviour. However, throughout the years the way humans behave and believe has been passed through generations; and it was mainly explained in religious terms. The origins of sociology started with the social movements of the late XVIII century such as the French Revolution in 1789 and the subsequent Industrial Revolution in Europe. (Giddens, 1997)

    Read More

  • Emile Durkheim and The Science of Sociology

    1278 Words  | 3 Pages

    Emile Durkheim was born in France in April of 1858 and died in November of 1917. He was from a close Jewish community that he continued to be close to even after breaking with the Jewish church. Having come from a long family line of rabbis, he had planned to follow in that profession. Durkheim was known as the Father of Sociology. He was a liberal, a modernist, and a nationalist. He was a very ambitious man; this ambition was illustrated by the accomplishments he made over the course of his life.

    Read More

  • Comparing Weber's and Durkheim's Methodological Contributions to Sociology

    1739 Words  | 4 Pages

    Comparing Weber's and Durkheim's Methodological Contributions to Sociology This essay will be examining the methodological contributions both Durkheim and Weber have provided to sociology. It will briefly observe what Positivists are and how their methodologies influence and affect their research. It will also consider what interpretative sociology is, and why their type of methodology is used when carrying out research. It will analyse both Durkheim's study of Suicide and also Webers study of The Protestant work ethic, and hopefully establish how each methodology was used for each particular piece of research, and why. Emile Durkhiem, in sociology terminology is considered to be a Functionalist, in addition to also being a Positivist, however, strictly speaking, Durkheim was not a Positivist.

    Read More

  • Comparisons of the Industrial Revolutions

    1205 Words  | 3 Pages

    The industrial revolution of 17th and 18th centuries saw the transformation of Britain from a Neolithic nation into an industrious nation. However, this spread quickly throughout the world, introducing the modernisation of agriculture, revolution in power and manufacturing of textile.

    Read More

  • Biography of Emile Durkheim

    660 Words  | 2 Pages

    Emile Durkheim was born in the eastern French province of Lorraine on April 15, 1858. He was the s on of a rabbi and descending from a long line of rabbis, he decided early that he would follow the family tradition and become a rabbi himself. He studied Hebrew, the Old Testament, and the Talmud, while following the regular course of in secular schools. He soon turned away from all religious involvement, though purposely not from interest in religious phenomena, and became a freethinker, or non-believer. At about the time of his graduation he decided that he would dedicate himself to the scientific study of society. Since sociology was not a subject either at the secondary schools or at the university, Durkheim launched a career as a teacher in philosophy. Emile Durkheim made many contributions to the study of society, suicide, the division of labor, solidarity and religion. Raised in a time of troubles in France, Durkheim spent much of his talent justifying order and commitment to order. Durkheim was a pioneer French sociologist, taught at Bordeaux (1887-1902) and the University of Paris (1902-17). He introduced the system and hypothetical framework of accurate social science. Durkheim was author of The Division of Labour (1893), Rules of Sociological Method (1895), Suicide (1897), Elementary Forms of Religious Life (1915). Emile Durkheim has often been characterized as the founder of professional sociology. He has a great closeness with the two introductory sociologists, Comte and Saint-Simon. Durkheim willingly noticed the ideas of the Division of Labor and the Biological Analogy.

    Read More

  • The Three Major Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology

    1966 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sociologists develop theories to explain and analyze society at different levels and from different perspectives. Sociologists study everything from the micro level of analysis of small social patterns to the “big picture” which is the macro level of analysis of large social patterns.

    Read More

  • The Contributions of Emile Durkheim

    2391 Words  | 5 Pages

    Sociology is the study of the structure of groups, organizations, and societies, and how individuals interact within these environments. Sociology at one time was not a respectable or well-known field of study until Emile Durkheim, a college professor, made sociology a part of the French college curriculum. Durkheim is regarded as one of the founders of sociology. He introduced sociology as a branch of learning separate from other sciences by declaring that sociologists must examine specific characteristics of group life. In this paper, I plan to provide some insight into who Emile Durkheim was and his contributions to the field of sociology.

    Read More

More about How Did Émile Durkheim Contribute To Our Understanding Of Sociology?

Open Document