Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim and Karl Weber are considered to be the principal "founding fathers" of the field of sociology. The following investigation, first of all, offers an overview of the beliefs and methodologies of each of these sociologists, discussing how they interact and how they affected each other. This discussion will show that there is a gradual evolution in his development of sociology that goes from the macrocosm to the microcosm, that is, first focusing on society overall and then more specifically on the individual. Karl Marx (1818-1883) was chiefly concerned as a philosopher with the plight of the working class, not only with the working class obtaining its material needs, but also in regards to how human beings develop
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Therefore, Durkheim conceived of sociology as a distinct science. He posited that what societies see as "normal" is relative to the stage of development of that particular society and that the absence of social norms, or conflict between existing social norms produces "anomie," that is, a "moral lawlessness" (Honderich, et al 1995: …show more content…
As this suggests, Durkheim saw society as being external to the individual, but also something that was internalized by the individual. With this perspective, Durkheim began to study social facts not simply as information that was "out there" in the world of material objects, but also as data that the social scientists can evaluate and understand. However, Cosner notes that Durkheim was primarily concerned with the characteristics of groups and structures than he was with individual attributes (1999: Durkheim). For example, in his studies of religion, he focused on whether or not there was cohesion within the group rather than on specific individual traits of religious believers (Cosner 1999: Durkheim). In so doing, he demonstrates that such group properties exist independently of individual traits and should therefore be studied in their own right (Cosner 1999: Durkheim). Additionally, Durkheim investigated differing rates of specific behavior within populations. For instance, he determined that a "significant increase of suicide rates in a particular group indicates that the social cohesion in that group has been weakened and its members are no longer sufficiently
Therefore, Durkheim conceived of sociology as a distinct science. He posited that what societies see as "normal" is relative to the stage of development of that particular society and that the absence of social norms, or conflict between existing social norms produces "anomie," that is, a "moral lawlessness" (Honderich, et al 1995: …show more content…
As this suggests, Durkheim saw society as being external to the individual, but also something that was internalized by the individual. With this perspective, Durkheim began to study social facts not simply as information that was "out there" in the world of material objects, but also as data that the social scientists can evaluate and understand. However, Cosner notes that Durkheim was primarily concerned with the characteristics of groups and structures than he was with individual attributes (1999: Durkheim). For example, in his studies of religion, he focused on whether or not there was cohesion within the group rather than on specific individual traits of religious believers (Cosner 1999: Durkheim). In so doing, he demonstrates that such group properties exist independently of individual traits and should therefore be studied in their own right (Cosner 1999: Durkheim). Additionally, Durkheim investigated differing rates of specific behavior within populations. For instance, he determined that a "significant increase of suicide rates in a particular group indicates that the social cohesion in that group has been weakened and its members are no longer sufficiently