Classical Theorist Emile Durkheim

Emile Durkheim (1858 - 1917

Emile Durkheim stands among the seminal classical theorists of sociology such as Karl Marx , Max Webber and Ferdinand Tonnies (Morrison 2006 . At a time where the subject of sociology itself was in its stages of infancy in universities , Durkheim 's contribution is described as the foundation for what we recognize today as social sciences (Morrison 2006 . Though he never considered himself a `sociologist , Durkheim 's theoretical perspectives and social concerns were profound and comprehensive , straddling aspects of religion , education , economics law , psychology , ethics , philosophy , and theology . Among

his central attention were regarding the aspects of Gemenshaft and Geselshaft : how societies were able to function and be efficient as they progressed into modernization when shared religion , culture and ethnic background seemed to deteriorate in tandem as they develop (Giddens , 1971

Durkheim borrowed August Comte 's social analysis where he deconstructed society into several parts and described each piece as playing a significant role in keeping the community alive and healthy , much like how each limb and organ throughout our bodies co-exist with one another For one component to deteriorate or malfunction , the whole system would be affected . He then compounded the Gemenshaft theory with social facts ' as he moved towards Geselshaft , a term he coined to describe how each component had an independent existence greater and more objective than the actions of the individuals that composed society (Giddens 1971 . His predecessors like Tonnies hypothesized that we all have a purpose to and for each other that motivates us to co-exists , like a barter system , with the exception that humans are the commodities . For Durkheim , the collective consciousness ' that underlies a traditional society changes to individual consciousness ' in a modern society as a result of division of labor . Hence , the simplicity , complacency and structured moderation that gelled people together peacefully slowly dissipates as it becomes complex with different specialization in employment and social roles (Poggi , 2000 . Needless to say , Durkheim broke the mold of looking at Comte 's society as a simple family where there was no conflict , confusion and anomalies ' among its members . It is through these anomalies , or social problems , that we create forms of deviant behavior , most notably , suicide (Poggi , 2000 . In a nutshell the more progressive or organic ' we become , the more social problems are created called anomalies . And these anomalies are the diseases that corrupt who we are that can eventually tip us over the edge with suicide

Since young , Durkheim was notably a hard-working , studious and scholarly individual . He was born on April 15 1858 in Lorraine , France into a family of devout Jews . His father and forefathers were all rabbis , yet since young , Durkheim knew he was not to follow suit (Poggi , 2000 . He took an alternative path into the secular movement holding on to a belief that even the role of religious phenomena in society had its roots in social understanding rather than a higher , ethereal Being or Divine intervention (Poggi , 2000 . His religious deviation could be due to the...