The investigation of individual experiences, beliefs and conducts which are shaped by social forces, is the main aim of social science. But Social theories consist of diverse and often contradictory approaches about what is social science and what methods and presuppositions should sociologist take into consideration when they study the social phenomena (Kadakal, 2013). The aim of this essay is to present the main ideas of Durkheim and Weber, two of the founding fathers of social science, through their studies persuaded to examine the social issues which occurred in Europe during the 19thcentury.Firstly outlined Durkheim’s positivist empirical method of studying the social reality and his main ideas of his works ‘The Division of Labor in Society
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Durkheim was a positivist scientist and he argue that sociology rely on empirical evidences. Durkheim, argue that the laws of society are no different from laws of nature, and the method in which the society should be studied, is the same with the method of the natural sciences. As the nature has laws which are given to us, society has social objective structures which are external to and constraining upon the individual. These structures are the collective standards, the norms and the rules of behavior within the society. Durkheim called these rules as ‘social facts’. The main two characteristics of the social facts are their externality and their constraint. People have not the free chose of behaving, but they should to confront to the …show more content…
His ideas can be found in two of Durkheim’s greatest works: The Division of Labor in Society (1893) and Suicide (1895). In the first, Durkheim’s doctoral thesis is that individuals shared conceptions and they act and behave as social wholes. It is vital for the good function of society the presence of cohesion or solidarity among the individuals. For Durkheim there are two types of social solidarity: the mechanic solidarity and the organic solidarity. In mechanic solidarity there is interdependence between people. People in this primitive society used to work at the same areas and almost have the same occupations. The members of this society have collective consciousness; the values and norms are very important and there is supremacy of the social order over the individuals. Any behavior against the values of the group, used to be punished violently. (Durkheim 1966). The other type of solidarity, which shapes on modern/industrialized societies, is the organic solidarity. The industrialization in these modern societies lead to the specialization of occupations so people work independently. This society has establish a social division of labor. Each member plays a special role and doing one significant task which contribute to the working of
Durkheim was a positivist scientist and he argue that sociology rely on empirical evidences. Durkheim, argue that the laws of society are no different from laws of nature, and the method in which the society should be studied, is the same with the method of the natural sciences. As the nature has laws which are given to us, society has social objective structures which are external to and constraining upon the individual. These structures are the collective standards, the norms and the rules of behavior within the society. Durkheim called these rules as ‘social facts’. The main two characteristics of the social facts are their externality and their constraint. People have not the free chose of behaving, but they should to confront to the …show more content…
His ideas can be found in two of Durkheim’s greatest works: The Division of Labor in Society (1893) and Suicide (1895). In the first, Durkheim’s doctoral thesis is that individuals shared conceptions and they act and behave as social wholes. It is vital for the good function of society the presence of cohesion or solidarity among the individuals. For Durkheim there are two types of social solidarity: the mechanic solidarity and the organic solidarity. In mechanic solidarity there is interdependence between people. People in this primitive society used to work at the same areas and almost have the same occupations. The members of this society have collective consciousness; the values and norms are very important and there is supremacy of the social order over the individuals. Any behavior against the values of the group, used to be punished violently. (Durkheim 1966). The other type of solidarity, which shapes on modern/industrialized societies, is the organic solidarity. The industrialization in these modern societies lead to the specialization of occupations so people work independently. This society has establish a social division of labor. Each member plays a special role and doing one significant task which contribute to the working of