Page 78 - DSOC401_SOCIOLOGICAL_THOUGHT_ENGLISH

Sociological Thought

notes After fifteen years of his above published book Durkheim’s another important book ‘Le formes
elementaire de la vie religieuse’ (translated as The Elementary Forms of Religious Life) is published.
The aim of this book was to establish a pure sociological principle of the religion. To fulfill it’s this
aim the very detailed and minor description of nature of religion, reason and effects of origin etc. has
done and on this basis it was tried to proof that the main source of origin of all religions is the ‘Society’
only. ‘The social principle of religion’ is the important part of Durkheim’s point of view.
Above four great epics was published in lifetime of Durkheim. After his death his wife had made his
few unpublished compositions publish. The following three epics out of all which was published after
Durkheim’s death are the famous name – Education et sociologie (1922) , Sociologie et Philosophy
(1924), and L’ education morale (1925). These all epics has made enable to store of sociological literature
and are immortal on today also after giving the introduction of uncommon talent of Durkheim.

Task What is Intellectual Background? Describe in brief.

self assessment
Fill in the blanks-
1. All the studies of social incidents………………are based on subjective facts.
2. …………………….. is a science, so keeping in mind it’s dignity the use of scientific
methodologies is appropriate.
3. After collecting a lot of data related to …………………. Durkheim has proved that suicide
is definitely a social incident.

13.2 summary

y Durkheim was the first sociologist to establish the base of sociology in France. He spent his
entire life in intellectual working. However, he worked with very comprehensive manner
related to French society.
y Emile Durkheim was the only person after August Comte in sociological history whose
importance and effect was the most. In other words it can be said that if Comte provided the
foundation to sociology then Durkheim has provided the solid base to that foundation in this
field by his scientific working.

13.3 Keywords

1. intellectual background: ‘De la division du travail social’ was the first epic of Durkheim.
The detailed analysis of social labour-division has done in this book. In the economical point
of view it is not only a study of labour-division but the meaning of social results also. So it
is clear that subject matter is not economical, but it is sociological.

13.4 review Questions

1. Comment briefly on the contribution of the thinkers who affected the views of Durkheim.

72 LoVeLY professionaL uniVersitY