Rules of the Sociological Method
Encyclopedia
The Rules of Sociological Method is a book by Émile Durkheim
, first published in 1895. It is recognized as being the direct result of Durkheim's own project of establishing sociology
as a positivist social science. Durkheim is seen as one of the fathers of sociology, and this work, his manifesto
of sociology. Durkheim distinguishes sociology from other sciences and justifies his rationale. Sociology is the science of social facts. Durkheim suggests two central theses, without which sociology would not be a science:
This book was one of the defining books for the new science of sociology
. Durkheim's argument that social sciences should be approached with the same rigorous scientific method
as used in natural sciences was seen as revolutionary for the time.
The Rules is seen as an important text in sociology and is a popular book on sociological theory
courses. The book's meaning is still being debated by sociologists.
To give sociology a place in the academic world and to ensure that it is a legitimate science, it must have an object that is clear and distinct from philosophy or psychology. He argued:
With regards to social facts, Durkheim defined them as follows:
One of the book's challenges is in showing how individual and seemingly chaotic decisions are in fact a result of a larger, more structured system, the pattern being held together by "social facts".
The definition of social facts illustrates the holistic paradigm in which Durkheim's social facts are defined by two main features: they are external to and coercive to individuals. They not only represent behavior but also the rules that govern behavior and give it meaning. Social facts are external to individuals, they predate them and survive them (we can give here the examples of the law, language, morality, etc.). Social facts can be constraining: if individuals do not do act as they dictate, they may face social penalties. The binding nature of social facts is often implicit, because the rules of society are internalized by individuals in the process of education and socialization.
Durkheim distinguished two types of social facts: normal social facts - which, within a society, occur regularly and most often - and pathological social facts - which are much less common.
Durkheim wrote:
This implies that sociology must respect and apply a recognized objective, scientific method, bringing it as close as possible to the other exact sciences. This method must at all cost avoid prejudice and subjective judgment.
Émile Durkheim
David Émile Durkheim was a French sociologist. He formally established the academic discipline and, with Karl Marx and Max Weber, is commonly cited as the principal architect of modern social science and father of sociology.Much of Durkheim's work was concerned with how societies could maintain...
, first published in 1895. It is recognized as being the direct result of Durkheim's own project of establishing sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
as a positivist social science. Durkheim is seen as one of the fathers of sociology, and this work, his manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
of sociology. Durkheim distinguishes sociology from other sciences and justifies his rationale. Sociology is the science of social facts. Durkheim suggests two central theses, without which sociology would not be a science:
- It must have a specific object of study. Unlike philosophyPhilosophyPhilosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
or psychologyPsychologyPsychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, sociology's proper object of study are social facts. - It must respect and apply a recognized objectiveObjectivity (science)Objectivity in science is a value that informs how science is practiced and how scientific truths are created. It is the idea that scientists, in attempting to uncover truths about the natural world, must aspire to eliminate personal biases, a priori commitments, emotional involvement, etc...
scientific methodScientific methodScientific method refers to a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of...
, bringing it as close as possible to the other exact scienceExact scienceAn exact science is any field of science capable of accurate quantitative expression or precise predictions and rigorous methods of testing hypotheses, especially reproducible experiments involving quantifiable predictions and measurements...
s. This method must at all cost avoid prejudicePrejudicePrejudice is making a judgment or assumption about someone or something before having enough knowledge to be able to do so with guaranteed accuracy, or "judging a book by its cover"...
and subjectiveSubjectivismSubjectivism is a philosophical tenet that accords primacy to subjective experience as fundamental of all measure and law. In extreme forms like Solipsism, it may hold that the nature and existence of every object depends solely on someone's subjective awareness of it...
judgment.
This book was one of the defining books for the new science of sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. Durkheim's argument that social sciences should be approached with the same rigorous scientific method
Scientific method
Scientific method refers to a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of...
as used in natural sciences was seen as revolutionary for the time.
The Rules is seen as an important text in sociology and is a popular book on sociological theory
Sociological theory
In sociology, sociological perspectives, theories, or paradigms are complex theoretical and methodological frameworks used to analyze and explain objects of social study. They facilitate organizing sociological knowledge...
courses. The book's meaning is still being debated by sociologists.
Sociology as the study of social facts
Durkheim's concern is to establish sociology as a science. Argue for a place for sociology among other sciences he wrote:To give sociology a place in the academic world and to ensure that it is a legitimate science, it must have an object that is clear and distinct from philosophy or psychology. He argued:
With regards to social facts, Durkheim defined them as follows:
One of the book's challenges is in showing how individual and seemingly chaotic decisions are in fact a result of a larger, more structured system, the pattern being held together by "social facts".
The definition of social facts illustrates the holistic paradigm in which Durkheim's social facts are defined by two main features: they are external to and coercive to individuals. They not only represent behavior but also the rules that govern behavior and give it meaning. Social facts are external to individuals, they predate them and survive them (we can give here the examples of the law, language, morality, etc.). Social facts can be constraining: if individuals do not do act as they dictate, they may face social penalties. The binding nature of social facts is often implicit, because the rules of society are internalized by individuals in the process of education and socialization.
Durkheim distinguished two types of social facts: normal social facts - which, within a society, occur regularly and most often - and pathological social facts - which are much less common.
Principles of sociology
According to Durkheim, sociologists, without preconceptions and prejudices, must study social facts as real, objective phenomena.Durkheim wrote:
This implies that sociology must respect and apply a recognized objective, scientific method, bringing it as close as possible to the other exact sciences. This method must at all cost avoid prejudice and subjective judgment.
See also
- The Division of Labour in SocietyThe Division of Labour in SocietyThe Division of Labor in Society is the dissertation of French sociologist Émile Durkheim, written in 1893. It was influential in advancing sociological theories and thought, with ideas which in turn were influenced by Auguste Comte...
(1893) - SuicideSuicide (book)Suicide was one of the groundbreaking books in the field of sociology. Written by French sociologist Émile Durkheim and published in 1897 it was a case study of suicide, a publication unique for its time which provided an example of what the sociological...
(1897) - The Elementary Forms of Religious Life (1912)
- A General View of PositivismA General View of PositivismA General View of Positivism was an 1848 book by the French philosopher Auguste Comte, first published in English in 1865...
(Auguste ComteAuguste ComteIsidore Auguste Marie François Xavier Comte , better known as Auguste Comte , was a French philosopher, a founder of the discipline of sociology and of the doctrine of positivism...
: 1844) - Structural functionalismStructural functionalismStructural functionalism is a broad perspective in sociology and anthropology which sets out to interpret society as a structure with interrelated parts. Functionalism addresses society as a whole in terms of the function of its constituent elements; namely norms, customs, traditions and institutions...
External links
- The Rules of Sociological Method', Chapter 5
- Les règles de la méthode sociologique (1919) - French version in the Internet Archives