ÉMILE DURKHEIM: SOCIAL FACTS AND DIVISION
OF LABOUR
DURKHEIM’S SOCIOLOGY
Durkheim studied society using the functional approach. According to this approach, every
part of society such as rules, norms, institutions, and customs has a specific function. All
these parts work together to maintain social order and help society survive for a long period
of time.
Durkheim viewed society from a macro perspective, meaning he studied society as a whole
rather than focusing on individuals. He believed that society is made up of different social
structures, and each structure plays an important role in maintaining social stability.
Durkheim believed that sociology should be studied in a scientific way. He argued that
sociology must be based on facts, observation, and evidence, not on philosophy, imagination,
or personal beliefs. This scientific way of studying society is called positivism.
According to Durkheim, society has a social reality of its own. Social reality is created when
individuals come together and interact with one another. This reality is greater than the sum
of individual actions and cannot be reduced to individual behaviour alone.
SOCIAL FACTS
Social facts include values, norms, rules, customs, and institutions that guide and control
human behaviour. These social facts shape how individuals think, act, and feel in society.
For example, social roles such as mother, father, husband, and wife come with specific
duties and responsibilities. These roles are not created by individuals but already exist as part
of the social system.
Social facts exist before we are born and continue to exist even after we die. Things like
language, the money system, the education system, laws, and cultural practices function
independently of any single individual. Individuals cannot easily change them according to
personal choice.
Durkheim defined social facts as ways of thinking, acting, and feeling that exist outside
the individual and exercise control over them. He explained the concept of social facts
clearly in his book The Rules of Sociological Method.
According to Durkheim, the most important rule of sociology is to treat social facts as
things, meaning they should be studied objectively, just like objects in natural science.
OF LABOUR
DURKHEIM’S SOCIOLOGY
Durkheim studied society using the functional approach. According to this approach, every
part of society such as rules, norms, institutions, and customs has a specific function. All
these parts work together to maintain social order and help society survive for a long period
of time.
Durkheim viewed society from a macro perspective, meaning he studied society as a whole
rather than focusing on individuals. He believed that society is made up of different social
structures, and each structure plays an important role in maintaining social stability.
Durkheim believed that sociology should be studied in a scientific way. He argued that
sociology must be based on facts, observation, and evidence, not on philosophy, imagination,
or personal beliefs. This scientific way of studying society is called positivism.
According to Durkheim, society has a social reality of its own. Social reality is created when
individuals come together and interact with one another. This reality is greater than the sum
of individual actions and cannot be reduced to individual behaviour alone.
SOCIAL FACTS
Social facts include values, norms, rules, customs, and institutions that guide and control
human behaviour. These social facts shape how individuals think, act, and feel in society.
For example, social roles such as mother, father, husband, and wife come with specific
duties and responsibilities. These roles are not created by individuals but already exist as part
of the social system.
Social facts exist before we are born and continue to exist even after we die. Things like
language, the money system, the education system, laws, and cultural practices function
independently of any single individual. Individuals cannot easily change them according to
personal choice.
Durkheim defined social facts as ways of thinking, acting, and feeling that exist outside
the individual and exercise control over them. He explained the concept of social facts
clearly in his book The Rules of Sociological Method.
According to Durkheim, the most important rule of sociology is to treat social facts as
things, meaning they should be studied objectively, just like objects in natural science.
