Emile Durkheim, Suicide, bk. 2, Quotes

A collection of quotes by Emile Durkheim, Suicide, bk. 2, .

Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) was a renowned French sociologist and one of the founding fathers of modern sociology. Born in Epinal, France, Durkheim came from a Jewish family and displayed early intellectual prowess. He went on to study philosophy at the prestigious École Normale Supérieure in Paris.

Durkheim's groundbreaking work and theories heavily influenced the development of sociology as a scientific discipline. He believed that society is a distinct entity existing above and beyond individual actions, and that social phenomena could be studied empirically. Durkheim's work focused on understanding the social forces that shape human behavior and the ways in which societies maintain social order.

His most significant and influential work, "Suicide: A Study in Sociology," was published in 1897. In this seminal book, Durkheim examined suicide rates within different social groups, debunking the prevailing notion that suicide is solely a result of individual psychological factors. Instead, he argued that suicide rates were influenced by social integration or lack thereof. Durkheim's analysis brought attention to the role of societal factors in determining the well-being of individuals.

Throughout his career, Durkheim emphasized the importance of sociology as a scientific discipline with its own unique set of methods and principles. He advocated for the study of social facts, collective representations, and social institutions to understand the dynamics of society. Emile Durkheim's contributions to sociology continue to be highly regarded, making him one of the most influential figures in the field.