ÉMILE DURKHEIM, FATOS SOCIAIS E SUICÍDIO PARA O ENEM

Summary

In this video, Pedro Rennó offers an insightful lesson on the French sociologist and philosopher Émile Durkheim, focusing on his significant contributions to sociology. He explains Durkheim's method of studying society scientifically, emphasizing the importance of treating social facts as 'things' to avoid bias. Durkheim's ideas on the division of labor and types of solidarity—mechanical and organic—are explored, along with his theory on suicide as a social phenomenon. The video also highlights Durkheim’s influence on modern sociology and its relevance to contemporary issues, such as mental health crises and social breakdowns.

Takeaways

• 😀 Émile Durkheim is considered one of the founding figures of sociology, influencing the study of society as a scientific discipline.
• 😀 Durkheim believed that society should be studied objectively, independent of individual values or common sense, through systematic, scientific methods.
• 😀 He emphasized that social facts, the phenomena that occur in society, should be treated as 'things' to ensure impartial study and avoid bias from personal experiences.
• 😀 According to Durkheim, social facts exist independently of individuals and shape their actions, much like how an organism functions autonomously.
• 😀 Durkheim distinguished between two types of solidarity: mechanical solidarity, found in simpler societies where individuals share common values and tasks, and organic solidarity, present in more complex societies where individuals are more specialized.
• 😀 Mechanical solidarity is typical of traditional societies, where people work together closely and share similar roles, while organic solidarity characterizes modern capitalist societies with a high division of labor.
• 😀 Durkheim argued that society functions as a collective, not as a sum of individual actions, and that this collective force influences individual behavior.
• 😀 Durkheim’s theory highlights the importance of understanding social phenomena like suicide not just as individual acts but as social facts, influenced by societal conditions.
• 😀 He identified three types of suicide: anomic suicide, resulting from societal instability; egoistic suicide, caused by a disconnect from society; and altruistic suicide, where an individual sacrifices themselves for the greater good.
• 😀 Durkheim's analysis of suicide showed how societal crises or disintegration could lead to higher suicide rates, such as during the economic collapse of 1929 or Brazil’s 1990s financial crisis.

Q & A

Who was Émile Durkheim and what is his significance?

Émile Durkheim was a French sociologist and philosopher, considered one of the founding figures of sociology. He is known for developing a scientific method to study society and its phenomena, emphasizing the importance of studying social facts as external and objective forces shaping individuals' behavior.

What is the relationship between Émile Durkheim and the positivism movement?

Durkheim was heavily influenced by positivism, a philosophical theory advocating for the application of scientific methods to study society. Though some debate whether Durkheim should be classified strictly as a positivist, his sociological approach is strongly aligned with the ideas of empiricism and scientific objectivity.

What are 'social facts' according to Durkheim?

Social facts are the collective phenomena that exist outside individual consciousness, such as norms, values, institutions, and practices that shape and constrain individual behavior. Durkheim emphasized studying these as 'things' to understand their impact on society.

How does Durkheim define the study of society?

Durkheim defined the study of society as a scientific, systematic exploration of social facts. He argued that sociology should be objective, detached from personal bias, and focused on understanding society as an independent reality that influences individuals.

What is the importance of treating social facts as 'things'?

Durkheim argued that to study social facts impartially and scientifically, they must be treated as 'things'—objective entities that exist independently of individual opinions and emotions. This approach allows sociologists to analyze them without personal interference.

What is the concept of society as an 'organism' according to Durkheim?

Durkheim viewed society as a living organism, where its various parts (individuals, institutions, and norms) work together to maintain the social structure. He argued that society shapes individuals' actions, much like an organism's organs function together to sustain life.

What is the distinction between mechanical and organic solidarity?

Mechanical solidarity refers to the social cohesion found in traditional, small societies where individuals share similar values and roles. Organic solidarity, on the other hand, characterizes modern, complex societies with a high division of labor, where individuals are interdependent but have specialized roles.

How does Durkheim explain the role of division of labor in modern society?

Durkheim argued that in modern societies, the division of labor leads to organic solidarity, where individuals perform specialized roles. While they may not be directly connected, they rely on each other to maintain societal functioning. This contrasts with simpler societies where people were more directly connected.

What is the relationship between suicide and social facts in Durkheim's work?

In his seminal work 'The Suicide,' Durkheim analyzed suicide as a social fact. He argued that suicide rates are influenced by societal factors rather than purely individual or psychological causes. He identified different types of suicides, such as egoistic, anomic, and altruistic, each linked to the individual's relationship with society.

What is 'anomic suicide' and how is it related to social crises?

Anomic suicide occurs when individuals lose their sense of societal norms and values due to social instability or crisis. Durkheim cited economic collapses, such as the 1929 Great Depression, as examples where societal breakdown led to an increase in suicides.