# Émile Durkheim

> French sociologist (1858–1917)

**Wikidata**: [Q15948](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15948)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Émile_Durkheim)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/emile-durkheim

## Summary
Émile Durkheim was a French sociologist (1858–1917) who founded modern sociology and made foundational contributions to the study of social facts, religion, and social integration. His works, including *The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life* and *The Division of Labour in Society*, established key concepts in social theory and influenced generations of sociologists.

## Biography
- Born: April 15, 1858, Épinal, France
- Nationality: French
- Education: École Normale Supérieure (Paris), Lycée Louis-le-Grand (Paris), Leipzig University (Germany), University of Bordeaux (France), University of Paris, École pratique des hautes études (Paris)
- Known for: Developing the concept of "social facts" and founding modern sociology
- Employer(s): École Normale Supérieure, University of Bordeaux, University of Paris, École pratique des hautes études, Human Rights League
- Field(s): Sociology, anthropology, philosophy

## Contributions
Émile Durkheim authored several seminal works that shaped sociology:
- *The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life* (1895) – Introduced the sociology of religion, analyzing how religious beliefs and practices emerge from social structures.
- *The Division of Labour in Society* (1893) – Examined how social division of labor influences social cohesion and integration.
- *Suicide* (1897) – Investigated suicide as a social phenomenon, linking it to social integration and regulation.
- *Rules of Sociological Method* (1895) – Established foundational principles for sociological research, emphasizing the study of social facts.

## FAQs
**What were Émile Durkheim's most important contributions to sociology?**
Durkheim's most important contributions include *The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life* (1895), which introduced the sociology of religion, and *The Division of Labour in Society* (1893), which analyzed social integration through labor division.

**Where did Émile Durkheim study and teach?**
Durkheim studied at École Normale Supérieure, Lycée Louis-le-Grand, Leipzig University, and the University of Bordeaux. He taught at the University of Bordeaux, University of Paris, and École pratique des hautes études.

**What was Durkheim's concept of "social facts"?**
Durkheim defined social facts as objective phenomena that exist independently of individual consciousness, such as religion, laws, and social norms, which shape collective behavior.

**How did Durkheim influence the sociology of religion?**
Durkheim's *The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life* (1895) established the sociology of religion, analyzing how religious beliefs and practices emerge from social structures rather than individual psychology.

**What was Durkheim's view on suicide?**
In *Suicide* (1897), Durkheim argued that suicide is a social phenomenon linked to social integration and regulation, showing how collective norms influence individual behavior.

## Why They Matter
Émile Durkheim's work fundamentally transformed sociology by introducing the concept of "social facts" and establishing systematic methods for studying collective phenomena. His theories on religion, labor, and suicide laid the groundwork for modern sociological research. Durkheim's influence extends to fields like anthropology, philosophy, and social policy, shaping how scholars analyze social structures and human behavior. Without Durkheim, sociology would lack its foundational principles, and the study of social phenomena would be less systematic and rigorous.

## Notable For
- Founding modern sociology with *The Rules of Sociological Method* (1895).
- Introducing the sociology of religion through *The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life* (1895).
- Analyzing social integration and labor division in *The Division of Labour in Society* (1893).
- Investigating suicide as a social phenomenon in *Suicide* (1897).
- Teaching at prestigious institutions like the University of Paris and École pratique des hautes études.
- Influencing key sociologists like Pierre Bourdieu and Jürgen Habermas.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Émile Durkheim was born on April 15, 1858, in Épinal, France. He attended Lycée Louis-le-Grand in Paris before enrolling at École Normale Supérieure, where he studied philosophy and sociology. He later pursued further studies at Leipzig University in Germany and the University of Bordeaux in France. His education laid the foundation for his groundbreaking contributions to sociology.

### Academic Career and Research
Durkheim began his academic career at the University of Bordeaux, where he taught sociology and philosophy. He later moved to the University of Paris and École pratique des hautes études, where he established himself as a leading sociological theorist. His research focused on social facts, religion, and social integration, leading to landmark publications that defined modern sociology.

### Major Works and Theories
Durkheim's major works include:
- *The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life* (1895) – Introduced the sociology of religion, analyzing how religious beliefs and practices emerge from social structures.
- *The Division of Labour in Society* (1893) – Examined how social division of labor influences social cohesion and integration.
- *Suicide* (1897) – Investigated suicide as a social phenomenon, linking it to social integration and regulation.
- *Rules of Sociological Method* (1895) – Established foundational principles for sociological research, emphasizing the study of social facts.

### Influence and Legacy
Durkheim's theories on social facts and social integration have had a profound impact on sociology and related fields. His work influenced generations of sociologists, including Pierre Bourdieu, Jürgen Habermas, and Claude Lévi-Strauss. Durkheim's concepts continue to shape modern sociological research and policy.

### Personal Life and Later Years
Durkheim was married to Marie-Louise Le Bon, and they had two children. He died on November 15, 1917, in Paris, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence sociology and social science. His contributions to sociology remain foundational, and his works are studied and referenced worldwide.

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