Comment on Durkheim’s use of the comparative approach to sociology.
Share
Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive a link and will create a new password via email.
Please briefly explain why you feel this question should be reported.
Please briefly explain why you feel this answer should be reported.
Please briefly explain why you feel this user should be reported.
1. Introduction:
Emile Durkheim, a founding figure in sociology, made significant contributions to the field by introducing methodological innovations that helped establish sociology as a distinct discipline. One key aspect of Durkheim's methodological approach was his extensive use of the comparative method. This note explores how Durkheim employed the comparative method in sociology and its implications for understanding social phenomena.
2. Understanding Durkheim’s Sociological Approach:
Before delving into Durkheim's usage of the comparative method, it's essential to grasp the broader context of his sociological approach. Durkheim sought to apply scientific principles to the study of society, emphasizing the systematic observation and analysis of social facts—observable and external aspects of social life that exert a coercive influence on individuals.
3. Defining the Comparative Method:
Durkheim's utilization of the comparative method involved systematically comparing different societies or social groups to identify patterns, variations, and causal relationships. This method allowed him to move beyond mere description and uncover underlying social mechanisms that contribute to social order or deviance.
4. Establishing Social Facts:
Durkheim's use of the comparative method aimed at establishing social facts, which he considered the building blocks of sociological analysis. Social facts, according to Durkheim, are external to individuals, constrain their behavior, and exhibit regular patterns. The comparative method enabled Durkheim to identify and analyze these social facts across different societies.
4.1. Identifying Patterns and Regularities:
4.2. Causal Analysis:
5. Suicide Study: A Pioneering Example:
Durkheim's seminal work on suicide provides a notable example of his application of the comparative method. In "Suicide: A Study in Sociology" (1897), Durkheim compared suicide rates across different societies and identified social factors influencing variations in suicide rates.
5.1. Types of Suicide:
5.2. Social Integration and Anomie:
6. Advantages and Criticisms of Durkheim’s Comparative Method:
While Durkheim's use of the comparative method was groundbreaking, it faced both acclaim and criticism within the academic community.
6.1. Advantages:
6.2. Criticisms:
7. Conclusion:
Emile Durkheim's usage of the comparative method significantly influenced the development of sociology as a scientific discipline. Through systematic cross-cultural comparisons, Durkheim aimed to uncover universal social facts, identify causal relationships, and generate generalizable sociological principles. His pioneering work, particularly in the study of suicide, exemplifies the effectiveness of the comparative method in revealing the underlying dynamics of social phenomena. While Durkheim's approach faced criticisms, it remains a cornerstone in the methodological toolbox of sociologists, shaping the way scholars approach the analysis of societies and social institutions.