6.1 Establishing a New Science

Summary

Emile Durkheim, a prominent French sociologist, is renowned for his significant contributions to the field of sociology. His interest in education and religion, influenced by his father's rabbinical background, shaped his sociological inquiries. Durkheim's work, particularly on suicide rates, demonstrated the social dimensions of seemingly individual acts, advocating for sociology as a necessary discipline to understand modern societal issues. He played a pivotal role in establishing sociology as an academic discipline, creating the first sociological journal, and authoring foundational texts, thus institutionalizing and professionalizing the field.

Takeaways

• 📜 Emile Durkheim was a renowned French sociologist who worked around the year 1900 and was the son of a rabbi.
• 👨‍🏫 Durkheim had a strong interest in the functions of education for society, not just for individuals.
• 🏛️ Before becoming a sociologist, Durkheim was a professor of education, possibly influenced by his family's religious background.
• 🌟 His fascination with religion was lifelong and culminated in his final book on the sociology of religious life.
• 🔍 Durkheim's background, including his father being a rabbi, influenced his sociological interests in group formation and identity.
• 🤔 He was particularly interested in group cohesion and was aware of anti-semitism, which may have been a personal concern.
• 🏛️ Durkheim played a pivotal role in institutionalizing sociology as an academic discipline within universities.
• 📈 He focused on phenomena like suicide to demonstrate sociology's relevance and ability to address modern societal issues.
• 📚 Durkheim was instrumental in establishing sociology as a new science with its own theories, methodologies, and academic infrastructure.
• 🏆 He was the first European professor of sociology, created the first sociological journal, and wrote a foundational handbook on sociological method.

Q & A

Who is Emile Durkheim and what is his significance in sociology?

Emile Durkheim was a famous French sociologist who worked around the year 1900. He is significant for his sociological theories and for institutionalizing sociology as an academic discipline in universities.

What was Durkheim's initial academic role before becoming a sociologist?

Before his academic role expanded to sociology, Durkheim was a professor of education, showing his interest in didactic questions.

How did Durkheim's family background influence his sociological interests?

Durkheim's family background, particularly being the son of a rabbi, stimulated his sociological interest in group formation, group identity, moral consciousness of a collectivity, and group cohesion.

What was the focus of Durkheim's final book?

Durkheim's final book was entirely dedicated to the sociology of religious life, reflecting his lifelong fascination with religion.

How did Durkheim contribute to the establishment of sociology as an academic discipline?

Durkheim contributed by transforming sociology into an academic endeavor, creating the first sociological journal, writing a sociological handbook, and becoming the first European professor of sociology.

What was the attitude of other scientists towards the introduction of sociology as a new academic discipline during Durkheim's time?

Other scientists were skeptical about sociology as a new academic discipline, believing that the field of social phenomena was already covered by existing sciences like psychology and mathematics.

Why was Durkheim interested in the study of suicide?

Durkheim was interested in the study of suicide because he believed it demonstrated the need for sociology to understand social phenomena and the problems of modern society.

How did Durkheim use the topic of suicide to argue for the relevance of sociology?

Durkheim used suicide rates to show that it is a social phenomenon, and sociologists can predict and understand it at a societal level, thus highlighting the value of sociology.

What was Durkheim's approach to selecting topics for his sociological studies?

Durkheim chose topics that would demonstrate the value and relevance of sociology as a science capable of understanding and solving social problems typical of modernity.

What were some of the challenges Durkheim faced in institutionalizing sociology?

Durkheim faced challenges such as skepticism from other scientists and the need to present a sound theoretical argument to show the necessity of sociology as a new science for modern Western societies.

What are some of the key achievements of Durkheim in the field of sociology?

Durkheim's key achievements include being the first European professor of sociology, creating the first sociological journal, writing the sociological handbook 'The Rules of Sociological Method,' and contributing to the professionalization of sociology.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Emile Durkheim: Sociology's Pioneer and Theorist

This paragraph introduces Emile Durkheim, a renowned French sociologist who worked around the year 1900. It discusses his background as the son of a rabbi, which may have influenced his interest in religion and his focus on group formation, identity, and cohesion. Durkheim's work on the sociology of education and his efforts to establish sociology as an academic discipline are highlighted. His book on the sociology of religious life is mentioned, as well as his role in institutionalizing sociology by creating the first sociological journal, 'L'Année Sociologique,' and writing 'The Rules of Sociological Method,' which served as a sociological handbook. The paragraph emphasizes Durkheim's dedication to demonstrating the value of sociology in understanding and addressing the social problems of modern society.

05:01

🔬 Institutionalizing Sociology: Durkheim's Theoretical Contributions

The second paragraph delves into Durkheim's efforts to institutionalize and professionalize sociology. It underscores the importance of his theoretical arguments in persuading modern Western societies of the necessity for sociology as a new science. The paragraph also mentions his work on the phenomenon of suicide, which he used to illustrate the social nature of what is often considered a personal act. Durkheim's success in establishing sociology as a university discipline, complete with its own theories, methodologies, faculty, and academic publications, is noted. The paragraph concludes by recognizing Durkheim's significant role in shaping the field of sociology and its acceptance as a vital academic discipline.

Keywords

💡Emile Durkheim

Emile Durkheim was a renowned French sociologist who worked around the year 1900. He is considered one of the founding fathers of sociology. In the script, Durkheim's interest in education and his background as the son of a rabbi are highlighted as influential to his sociological perspective. His work is central to the video's theme of understanding the development and importance of sociology as an academic discipline.

💡Sociology

Sociology is the scientific study of society, patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and culture. The script emphasizes Durkheim's role in transforming sociology from a practice outside of universities to an academic discipline. His efforts to institutionalize sociology are a key narrative in the video, showcasing how he established it as a field with its own theories and methodologies.

💡Education

Education, as mentioned in the script, is a focal point of Durkheim's work, not just for individuals but for society as a whole. He was particularly interested in the didactic questions and the role of education in shaping societal functions. This concept ties into the video's exploration of Durkheim's contributions to the understanding of social phenomena.

💡Religion

Religion is a system of beliefs and practices that often relates to the worship of deities. In the script, Durkheim's lifelong fascination with religion is noted, which culminated in his final book dedicated to the sociology of religious life. This keyword is integral to understanding Durkheim's sociological interest in group formation and identity.

💡Group Cohesion

Group cohesion refers to the bonding and unity within a social group. The script suggests that Durkheim's background, including being the son of a rabbi in a small village, stimulated his interest in group cohesion. This concept is used in the video to illustrate how Durkheim applied sociological theories to understand the moral consciousness and collective identity within groups.

💡Anti-Semitism

Anti-Semitism is discrimination against, prejudice, or hostility toward Jewish people. The script mentions that Durkheim's background made him aware of anti-Semitism, which likely influenced his sociological studies. This keyword is relevant to the video's discussion of Durkheim's personal experiences and how they shaped his academic focus on group identity and prejudice.

💡Academic Discipline

An academic discipline is a branch of knowledge that is formally taught and researched at institutions of higher education. The script discusses how Durkheim was instrumental in making sociology an academic discipline, offering courses and establishing a curriculum. This keyword is central to the video's narrative of Durkheim's efforts to professionalize sociology.

💡Suicide

Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. In the script, Durkheim's study of suicide rates is used to illustrate the social phenomena that can be understood through sociological analysis. The video uses this keyword to demonstrate how Durkheim showed the relevance of sociology in explaining and predicting social issues like suicide.

💡Social Phenomena

Social phenomena are observable events or behaviors in society that can be studied and analyzed. The script mentions suicide as an example of a social phenomenon that Durkheim believed could be understood through sociology. This keyword is crucial for understanding the video's message about the importance of sociology in analyzing collective behaviors and societal trends.

💡Institutionalizing Sociology

Institutionalizing sociology refers to the process of establishing sociology as an official academic discipline within universities and other educational institutions. The script details Durkheim's efforts in creating the first sociological journal, writing a sociological handbook, and becoming the first European professor of sociology. This keyword encapsulates the video's theme of Durkheim's role in professionalizing and legitimizing sociology as a field of study.

💡Modern Society

Modern society refers to contemporary social structures and cultural norms. The script discusses how Durkheim's work aimed to help understand and solve social problems typical of modernity. This keyword is integral to the video's exploration of Durkheim's theories and their application to contemporary social issues.

Highlights

Emile Durkheim, a French sociologist, was the son of a rabbi and had a lifelong fascination with religion.

Durkheim was interested in the functions of education for society as a whole.

He was a professor of education before becoming a sociologist, which influenced his interest in didactic questions.

Durkheim's family background, including ancestors who were rabbis, may have influenced his sociological interests.

His final book was dedicated to the sociology of religious life, reflecting his interest in group formation and identity.

Durkheim's work on group cohesion and awareness of anti-Semitism was influenced by his background.

He played a crucial role in institutionalizing sociology as an academic discipline.

Before Durkheim, sociology was practiced outside of universities by non-academics.

After his death, sociology became a recognized academic discipline in the Western world.

Durkheim was part of a generation that brought sociology into universities and transformed it into an academic endeavor.

Other scientists were initially skeptical about sociology as a new academic discipline.

Durkheim's work on suicide demonstrated the need for sociology to understand social phenomena.

He believed sociology could predict social issues like suicide rates in various groups.

Durkheim chose topics to show the value and relevance of sociology as a science addressing modern social problems.

He fought for the introduction of sociology as a university discipline with its own theories and methodologies.

Durkheim was the first European professor of sociology and created the first sociological journal.

He wrote 'The Rules of Sociological Method', a sociological handbook, in 1895.

Durkheim was instrumental in institutionalizing and professionalizing sociology.

He presented theoretical arguments to show the necessity of sociology for modern Western societies.

Transcripts

you should not forget that I am the son

of rabbi that is a sentence from a

letter written by Emile Durkheim the

famous French sociologist worked around

the year 1900 Duke M I tried to

pronounce his name the French way but

maybe I will forget it later and give it

a more German sound

Duke M was very interested in teaching

in the functions of Education not just

for children or adults but for society

at large

before his academic task was expanded

with teaching sociology Durham was a

professor of education and his interest

in didactic questions may have something

to do with his father and a few other

ancestors many of whom were rabbis to

the small sentence about his father may

also help us understand why Durham had

this lifelong fascination with religion

culminating in his final book that was

entirely dedicated to the sociology of

religious life yes he was the son of a

rabbi the spiritual leader of a

religious minority group in a small

village in northeastern France and these

among other things must have stimulated

his sociological interest in group

formation in group identity the moral

consciousness of a collectivity it

certainly triggered his lifelong

interest in group cohesion and it also

made him aware of anti-semitism of

course Emil Duke M is important for the

sociological theories that he offered us

but we should not forget his role in

institutionalizing sociology before he

was born in 1858 sociology was practiced

outside of the university by amateurs

and aristocrats revolutionaries and

engineers but it was not yet an academic

discipline after his death in 1917

sociology became an academic discipline

that students everywhere in the Western

world could choose to study

starting with an introductory course and

ending of course with the graduation

ceremony now Durkheim belongs to a

generation of thinkers who brought

sociology in to the university who

transformed it into an academic endeavor

and that was not at all an easy task

because the professors of the other

sciences rather skeptical about this

newcomer in Dickens days for example the

scientists who were interested in the

psychology of maths behavior believed

that they adequately covered the field

of the social phenomena and that a new

science was superfluous Duke M didn't

agree at all he saw it as his task to

show that sociology has a field all of

its own

Duke M for example was interested in the

phenomenon of suicides and one of the

reasons was that he believes that

suicide figures make clear why we need

sociology to understand the problems of

modern society he says suicide seems to

be the most personal act that you can

imagine often prepared in utter

loneliness an act of desperation and

especially of isolation but when you

look at large numbers then you can see

that suicide is a social phenomenon and

that the sociologists can predict the

number of suicide cases in a certain

year a certain region a certain age

cohort a certain professional group even

in a certain religious group so in

choosing his topics Durkheim never lost

sight of his intention to show the value

and the relevance of sociology as a new

science that can help us to understand

and to solve social problems that are

typical of modernity

and when I present Duke M here I will

look at his work from the vantage point

of this self a post task to fight for

the introduction of sociology as one of

the university disciplines new science

with its own brand

of theories and methodologies and

therefore also a science with its own

faculty members and its own professors

and teachers its own handbooks its own

journals and let us not forget that he

was very successful in this regard

duChemin was the first European

professor of sociology in 1913 he

created the first sociological journal

lanessa logic in 1898 he wrote a kind of

sociological handbook the rules of

sociological method 1895 in short he was

very very instrumental in the process of

institutionalizing and professionalizing

sociology but in order to achieve that

goal

one must present a sound theoretical

argument to show that people in modern

Western societies really need such a new

science Duke M developed the arguments

that we still today use when we speak

about the science of sociology