Emile Durkheim Essay

Emile Durkheim was a French sociologist who is considered to be the founding father of sociology. His contri aloneions were in sociology, Anthropology and religions studies. He published and lectured sociological studies in topics akin upbringing, crime, religion, felo-de-se and variant of chore. Durkheim was born in Pascoag land of Lorraine, formerly in Germany but presently in France, in 1859, April 15. His family linage was of rabbi but he rebelled against this title while still a kid. a good deal of his work was to show that religions bases were from companionable issues and non a divine issue.though he rebelled against his family rabbi tradition, his relationship to the family and the Jewish comm union was still intact. Most of his collaborators and students were cadaverous from the Jewish community and was even confirmed under the Jewish traditions at the age of thirteen. He followed the regular placement in the secular school day and at the same time studied Hebre w, Talmud and Old Testament. He at one time acquired rough numinous skills in Catholicism from his young-bearing(prenominal) teacher who was a catholic herself. However, soon after, he developed some doubts in religion and withdrew his involvement in it.In the college dEpinal, he was a precocious scholar and this earned him some prizes and honors. This motivated him towards his intake and transferred to Lycee Louis-le-Grand, a French high school in Paris. posterior in 1879, he joined Ecole Normale Superieure a development institution for French scholars. In the ground, he met some major(ip) scholars marking French intellect life. These were Henri Bergsona a vitalism philosopher, Jean Jaures a brotherly leader, Rauh, Golot and Blondel entirely philophers and Peirre Ja unclutter a psychologist.His use up is a scientific view to society earned him some emulation towards Ecole Normale schoolman system. It contained no companionable science which was Durkheim interest. Inste ad, humanistic studies dominated the academic system. He rebelled against a course that privileged reading of Latin prose and Grecian verse and tangle recent scientific discoveries and philosophical doctrines should adopt been the privileged. He was for a solid and structured learning rather than elegant dabbling system which was even rewarded. In 1882 he finished 2nd last in his graduation class.Despite his rebel nature, he had some good friends wish Jean Jaures a socialist leader. He was k without delayn to be intelligent, dedicated, a good righteous and scientific instructor. (Caser 143) After spending a social class in Germany mull overing sociology, he returned to Bordeaux where a teachers training school had just been started. There, he taught social sciences and pedagogy. He was credited for introducing social sciences in the French curriculum. However, his argument that social science could easily inform morality and religion was criticized. Thereafter in 1890s, it became Durkheims period of his operative contribution.In 1893, he published his doctoral dissertation The Division of labor in Society, which was a study of how social order was kept up(p) in differing societies. 1895 published Rules of the sociological method manifesting on sociology definition and how it is hypothetical to be done. One the same year, 1895, he founded Department of Sociology at the University of Bordeaux. In 1898 he published his increasing students and collaborators works in LAnnes Sociologuque a diary he had founded. In 1897, he published Suicide a study providing examples of what the sociological monograph might look.He used quantitative methods in criminology to explore the different crime order among Protestants and Catholics. He found the strong social control among catholic cut back suicide rates. In 1902, Durkheim was the permanent hold in of education and sociology. In the same year 1912, he published his major work The elementary forms of Religio us life During the world war which was characterized by propaganda, Durkheim dropped his position on politics which was patriotic rather than planetaryism. His former students had died in the war including his own son. This caused Durkheim mental blows.He had lost his son and his quick of scent secular life had been affected by the war. In 1917, he suffered a stroke from emotional strains and exhaustion, recover months later and resumed to work but later on the same year died. Emile Durkheim was laid to rest in Paris. (Emile Durkheim) His theories and ideas primarily focused social structural assertions of human social tribulations. He covered the social facts, contribution of labor, education, crime, punishment law and suicide. In social facts, Durkheim felt that the society is much more than than what it meant. He incorporated issue like ethnic and religion background.His priority was not on what bewitchs individuals behaviors or acts but in social facts. His argument about s ocial facts is that its existence is more objective and greater than individuals actions and who makes a society. He argued that solely if people in a society were oriented to a customary symbolic representationic representation sets, to a common assumption about the environment, could moral unity prevail. Without them any society irrespective of its groundbreakingity or uncreated nature would degenerate and decay. (Coser 144) In religion, his views be that it is a pervasive fount in social structure.It is more human oriented aimed at unify communities. He looks at it effect on an individual and the way they be make believe, how it bum divide a community and its role in the society. Durkheim defines religion as a cultural system of commonly shared beliefs and rituals that provides a adept of ultimate meaning and purpose by creating an idea of reality base on super natural powers (Giddens 534) In division of labor, he argues that condescension it aim for material and intell ectual development in the society it has a moral factor more authorized in that it enhances social unity among people.He argues that people have something in common. This is what binds them together along tralatitious lines for they are more or less the same. The highly complex division of labor in new-made communities was influenced by organic solidarity. Specialization and social roles tie individuals to one another. He argues law is a major symbol in the social unity. Punishments acts in it are meant to sustain the unity. Law is not meant to punish but restrain the existing unity. Durkheim called the breaking of social norms solid ground of anomic. (Calhoun 47) He tried to argue suicide by comparing its rates among the Protestants and Catholics.There was less suicide cases in catholic than in protestant. concord to him this was as a result of catholic strict norms. His work has influence control theory of sociology. His view on punishment is that it is important in the socie ty setting. He argues social solidarity can only be kept up(p) by means of punishment. To avoid law breakers who in turn threaten the social unity in a society, punishments act as a threat. However, he calls for a relevant punishment amount claiming it threatens immorality. On crime, he feels it is useful as it leads to reform.It is a response to a pressing social tension and hence flushes out the pressing issue off the society. (Parsons 32) As a teacher, he had interest in education. He felt it is an important entity in the social structure as it strengthens social cohesion, maintains social roles and maintains division of labor. Emile Durkheim has over the years influenced sociology scholar. In most cases, they have based their studies in his arguments. In most education curriculum, his sociology initiative has been incorporated. His arguments in almost all the areas in social structure have influenced the modern society.Major education institutes offers courses on sociology a ll over the world. The study of criminology has based its findings in Emiles ideas. His sociological theories and ideas have been used to explain the causes of crimes in a society. constitution and law makers have used Durkheims ideas in making the law. Courts too in their making of judgments they have based it on his ideas. For example cases of suicide and crimes. His findings have been very significant in trying to understand terrorist act and terrorism acts. In the modern society, this has been a major threat to the international unity. devotion has been known to be the root cause of such terrorism acts. The 9/11 us terrorism act was by Muslim extremists. The social control in Islamic does not restrict this and therefore it may not look more of a crime to them. Religion has influenced the society greatly, from politics, rituals and practices. On the religion set social norms, members have behaved and acted gibe to them. Civil wars in most of the word nations are as a result o f social norms conflict among different societies. Most of the crimes against humanities have been important in that it has influenced reforms as per Durkheim ideas.Many societies have learnt from past experiences and have significantly reformed to be stronger and united. However, some societies have released social tensions through criminal activities like wars and the end result have been improved unity. This justifies Durkheims idea on crime that it is important in reformation. The United dry land body is significant in the worlds unity. The social norms depict in its organization have a great influence in controlling the worlds societies in their actions. Exploitation is now reduced and independence has prevailed. On the other hand, the larger community i.e. the world is now much more united. Division of labor which is an evident entity in the modern society is more than just sharing responsibilities and roles. It is very significant in social unity. The coming together of spe cialists from different background has enhanced fundamental interaction and understanding among a larger population.In the labor firms, acts that govern a company have been made by their respective policy makers and are significant in the social unity and in role sharing. Durkeims scientific views on the society, his contributions and influences are very visible in the modern society.Therefore, he deserves acknowledgment as the founding father of sociology.Work citedCoser, . Emile Durkheim the individual sociology at hewett 1977. Retrieved on Friday, October 17, 2008 from http//www. hewett. norfolk. sch. uk/curric/soc/durkheim/durkper. htm Emile Durkheim Site Emile Durkheim biography mosaic Retrieved on Friday, October 17, 2008 from http//www. emiledurkheim. net/ Giddens, A& Griffiths, S . Religion in the modern society Polity, 2006. 138- 148 Parsons, T. et al . Theories of Society, New York Free Press, 2006, 33-48 Calhoun, et al Classical Sociological Theory . Blackwell Publishing , 2007. 45-66