The Theories of Emile Durkkheim

The Theories of Emile Durkheim

Emile Durkheim also referred to as “The Father of Sociology” (Thio, 2002), played a critical role in establishing theories based on “Social Facts” (Thio, 2002) He is best known for his views of “social reality”( Thio, 2002) and their ties into how a society works. He was said to be a sociologist who played an important part in the development of “structural functionalism” (Thio, 2002), and sociology as a whole. His four major studies, or publications, have assured him a place in the history of sociology’s intellectual development (Thompson, 2002). The following contents will discuss Durkheim’s childhood, his studies, his journey through sociology, and his theories.

Emile Durkheim was born in France in April of 1858(The Biography of Emile Durkheim, 2000). He was the fourth child, and the second son of Moise and Melanie Durkheim (The Biography of Emily Durkheim, 2000). Brought up in a Jewish family, with many of rabbis including his father and grandfather, it was expected that Durkheim would be a rabbi as well. Early in life Durkheim “studied Hebrew, the Old Testament, and the Talmud, while also studying the regular course of traditional teaching in secular schools” (The Biography of Emile Durkheim, 2000). Durkheim participated in his “traditional Jewish confirmation” at the age of thirteen (The biography of Emile Durkheim, 2000). He later lost interest of his Jewish heritage, and became interested in the ideas of the catholic nation (otherwise known as Catholicism). Shortly after that he disengaged himself with all religious involvement and became an agnostic (Thompson, 2002). He did not reject his heritage; he just realized he preferred to study religion from an agnostic or non-religi...

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...es that make us who we are. Sociological proof helps us gain insight on how an individual conforms to a society as a whole.

Emile Durkheim’s journey through sociology was different from other sociologists in that others rely on emotions or standard guessing, while Durkheim’s theories rely on fact, what he could physically see. Durkheim began his studies on social fact when he was a child, and got more involved as he became older, coming up with different more complex ideas. Durkheim was a great philosopher one of the best from his time. His concepts are still studies and used today.

Works Cited

Thio, A. (2009). Sociology: a brief introduction (7th edition). Athens, OH:

Allyn and Bacon

The Biography of Emile Durkheim (2002). Retrieved from http://www.emile-durkheim.com

Thompson, K. (2002). Emile Durkheim Key sociologist (revised 1st edition). London