Emile Durkheim

Date of Birth: April 15, 1858

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: November 15, 1917

Biography

David Émile Durkheim was born on April 15, 1858, in Épinal, France. He is widely regarded as one of the founding figures of modern sociology. Durkheim’s academic journey began with a focus on philosophy, but he soon shifted to sociology, becoming one of its most influential theorists. He was instrumental in establishing sociology as an academic discipline, emphasizing the importance of studying society through empirical data and scientific methods. Durkheim’s work primarily focused on how societies can maintain their integrity and coherence in modernity, where traditional social and religious ties are no longer assumed. His seminal works include “The Division of Labour in Society” (1893), “Rules of the Sociological Method” (1895), “Suicide” (1897), and “The Elementary Forms of Religious Life” (1912). These works explored various aspects of social cohesion, the role of social norms, and the impact of religion on social life. Durkheim’s theories on social facts, collective conscience, and anomie have had a lasting impact on sociology and other social sciences. He was also a key figure in establishing sociology as an academic discipline at the University of Bordeaux and later at the Sorbonne in Paris. Durkheim passed away on November 15, 1917, but his contributions to sociology continue to be highly influential.

5 Interesting Facts about Emile Durkheim

1. Durkheim was the first to introduce the concept of “social facts,” which are external forces that influence individual behavior.

2. He founded the first European Department of Sociology at the University of Bordeaux in 1895.

3. Durkheim’s study on suicide was groundbreaking, demonstrating that social factors, not just individual psychology, influence suicide rates.

4. He was a contemporary and, at times, a critic of other founding sociologists like Max Weber and Karl Marx.

5. Durkheim was deeply influenced by the political upheavals in France during his lifetime, including the Dreyfus Affair, which shaped his views on society and justice.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Emile Durkheim

1. “Social life comes from a double source, the likeness of consciences and the division of social labor.”

2. “A society is not a mere sum of individuals. Rather, the system formed by their association represents a specific reality which has its own characteristics.”

3. “Man’s characteristic privilege is that the bond he accepts is not physical but moral; that is, social.”

4. “To love society is to love something beyond us and something in ourselves.”

5. “The sacred world depends on human society, and it is in the nature of social facts.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Emile Durkheim did not achieve significant personal wealth during his lifetime, as his work was primarily academic. Therefore, calculating a net worth in modern terms is not applicable.

Children

Emile Durkheim had two children: Marie Durkheim and André Durkheim. Marie became a well-known physicist, and André tragically died in combat during World War I.