The Rules of Sociological Method (French: Les Règles de la méthode sociologique) 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 positivistsocial science.[1][2] Durkheim is seen as one of the fathers of sociology,[3] and this work, his manifesto of sociology.[4] Durkheim distinguishes sociology from other sciences and justifies his rationale.[1] 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 philosophy or psychology, sociology's proper object of study are social facts.
French Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Les Règles de la méthode sociologique
This book was one of the defining books for the new science of sociology.[6] 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.[6]
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.[7][8]
Durkheim's concern is to establish sociology as a science.[1] Arguing for a place for sociology among other sciences, he wrote, "Sociology is, then, not an auxiliary of any other science; it is itself a distinct and autonomous science."[9] 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, "There is in every society a certain group of phenomena which may be differentiated from those studied by the other natural sciences."[10]
With regards to social facts, Durkheim defined them as follows:
A social fact is every way of acting, fixed or not, capable of exercising on the individual an external constraint; or again, every way of acting which is general throughout a given society, while at the same time existing in its own right independent of its individual manifestations.[11]
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".[3]
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.[2] They not only represent behaviour but also the rules that govern behaviour and give it meaning.[12] Social facts have been not only accepted by, but have been adopted by society as rules to which they choose to follow.[4] Law, language, morality and marriage are all examples of ideals formed through individual thought that have manifested into these concrete institutions which we must now abide by.[13] Social facts can be constraining: if individuals do not do act as they dictate, they may face social penalties.[13] 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.[13]
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 sociologyedit
According to Durkheim, sociologists, without preconceptions and prejudices, must study social facts as real, objective phenomena.[4] Durkheim wrote, "The first and most fundamental rule is: Consider social facts as things."[14] This implies that sociology must respect and apply a recognized objective, scientific method, bringing it as close as possible to the other exact sciences.[4] This method must at all cost avoid prejudice and subjective judgment.[4]
Furthermore Durkheim talks about social phenomena and how they must be studied. Durkheim wrote:
Social phenomena must be considered in themselves, detached from the conscious beings who form their own mental representations of them. They must be studied from the outside, as external things, because it is in this guise that they present themselves to us[15]
^ abcDamian Popolo (16 January 2011). A New Science of International Relations: Modernity, Complexity and the Kosovo Conflict. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. pp. 97–. ISBN978-1-4094-1226-7. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
^ abKate Reed (2006). New Directions in Social Theory: Race, Gender and the Canon. SAGE. pp. 27–. ISBN978-0-7619-4270-2. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
^ abLisa F. Berkman; Ichirō Kawachi (2000). Social Epidemiology. Oxford University Press US. pp. 138–. ISBN978-0-19-508331-6. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
^ abcdeÉmile Durkheim (1982). The Rules of Sociological Method. Simon and Schuster. pp. 2–. ISBN978-0-02-907940-9. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
^Patricia Leavy (30 July 2008). Method Meets Art: Arts-based Research Practice. Guilford Press. pp. 5–. ISBN978-1-59385-259-7. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
^ abFerreol & Noreck (2009). Introduction to Sociology. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. pp. 12–. ISBN978-81-203-3940-8. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
^W. S. F. Pickering (2001). Emile Durkheim: Critical Assessments of Leading Sociologists. Taylor & Francis. pp. 232–. ISBN978-0-415-20562-7. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
^Michael R. Hill; Susan Hoecker-Drysdale (15 November 2002). Harriet Martineau: Theoretical and Methodological Perspectives. Psychology Press. pp. 80–. ISBN978-0-415-94528-8. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
^Mary C. Brinton; Victor Nee (2001). The New Institutionalism in Sociology. Stanford University Press. pp. 11–. ISBN978-0-8047-4276-4. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
^Scott Appelrouth; Laura Desfor Edles (26 September 2007). Classical and Contemporary Sociological Theory: Text and Readings. Pine Forge Press. pp. 95–. ISBN978-0-7619-2793-8. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
^Scott Appelrouth; Laura Desfor Edles (26 September 2007). Classical and Contemporary sociological Theory: Text and Readings. Pine Forge Press. pp. 99–. ISBN978-0-7619-2793-8. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
^Finn Collin (1 January 2002). Social Reality. CRC Press. pp. 217–. ISBN978-0-203-04792-7. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
^ abcPeter Wallace Preston (1996). Development Theory: An Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 87–. ISBN978-0-631-19555-9. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
^Martin Hollis (1994). The Philosophy of Social Science: An Introduction. Cambridge University Press. pp. 99–. ISBN978-0-521-44780-5. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
Les règles de la méthode sociologique (1919) - French version in the Internet Archives
April 10, 2024
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The Rules of Sociological Method French Les Regles de la methode sociologique is a book by Emile 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 1 2 Durkheim is seen as one of the fathers of sociology 3 and this work his manifesto of sociology 4 Durkheim distinguishes sociology from other sciences and justifies his rationale 1 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 philosophy or psychology sociology s proper object of study are social facts It 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 5 The Rules of Sociological MethodCover of the 1919 French editionAuthorEmile DurkheimOriginal titleLes Regles de la methode sociologiqueCountryFranceLanguageFrenchSubjectSociologyPublication date1895Media typePrintFrench Wikisource has original text related to this article Les Regles de la methode sociologique This book was one of the defining books for the new science of sociology 6 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 6 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 7 8 Contents 1 Sociology as the study of social facts 2 Principles of sociology 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksSociology as the study of social facts editDurkheim s concern is to establish sociology as a science 1 Arguing for a place for sociology among other sciences he wrote Sociology is then not an auxiliary of any other science it is itself a distinct and autonomous science 9 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 There is in every society a certain group of phenomena which may be differentiated from those studied by the other natural sciences 10 With regards to social facts Durkheim defined them as follows A social fact is every way of acting fixed or not capable of exercising on the individual an external constraint or again every way of acting which is general throughout a given society while at the same time existing in its own right independent of its individual manifestations 11 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 3 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 2 They not only represent behaviour but also the rules that govern behaviour and give it meaning 12 Social facts have been not only accepted by but have been adopted by society as rules to which they choose to follow 4 Law language morality and marriage are all examples of ideals formed through individual thought that have manifested into these concrete institutions which we must now abide by 13 Social facts can be constraining if individuals do not do act as they dictate they may face social penalties 13 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 13 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 editAccording to Durkheim sociologists without preconceptions and prejudices must study social facts as real objective phenomena 4 Durkheim wrote The first and most fundamental rule is Consider social facts as things 14 This implies that sociology must respect and apply a recognized objective scientific method bringing it as close as possible to the other exact sciences 4 This method must at all cost avoid prejudice and subjective judgment 4 Furthermore Durkheim talks about social phenomena and how they must be studied Durkheim wrote Social phenomena must be considered in themselves detached from the conscious beings who form their own mental representations of them They must be studied from the outside as external things because it is in this guise that they present themselves to us 15 See also edit nbsp Society portalA General View of Positivism Structural functionalismReferences edit a b c Damian Popolo 16 January 2011 A New Science of International Relations Modernity Complexity and the Kosovo Conflict Ashgate Publishing Ltd pp 97 ISBN 978 1 4094 1226 7 Retrieved 17 March 2011 a b Kate Reed 2006 New Directions in Social Theory Race Gender and the Canon SAGE pp 27 ISBN 978 0 7619 4270 2 Retrieved 17 March 2011 a b Lisa F Berkman Ichirō Kawachi 2000 Social Epidemiology Oxford University Press US pp 138 ISBN 978 0 19 508331 6 Retrieved 17 March 2011 a b c d e Emile Durkheim 1982 The Rules of Sociological Method Simon and Schuster pp 2 ISBN 978 0 02 907940 9 Retrieved 17 March 2011 Patricia Leavy 30 July 2008 Method Meets Art Arts based Research Practice Guilford Press pp 5 ISBN 978 1 59385 259 7 Retrieved 17 March 2011 a b Ferreol amp Noreck 2009 Introduction to Sociology PHI Learning Pvt Ltd pp 12 ISBN 978 81 203 3940 8 Retrieved 17 March 2011 W S F Pickering 2001 Emile Durkheim Critical Assessments of Leading Sociologists Taylor amp Francis pp 232 ISBN 978 0 415 20562 7 Retrieved 17 March 2011 Michael R Hill Susan Hoecker Drysdale 15 November 2002 Harriet Martineau Theoretical and Methodological Perspectives Psychology Press pp 80 ISBN 978 0 415 94528 8 Retrieved 17 March 2011 Mary C Brinton Victor Nee 2001 The New Institutionalism in Sociology Stanford University Press pp 11 ISBN 978 0 8047 4276 4 Retrieved 17 March 2011 Scott Appelrouth Laura Desfor Edles 26 September 2007 Classical and Contemporary Sociological Theory Text and Readings Pine Forge Press pp 95 ISBN 978 0 7619 2793 8 Retrieved 17 March 2011 Scott Appelrouth Laura Desfor Edles 26 September 2007 Classical and Contemporary sociological Theory Text and Readings Pine Forge Press pp 99 ISBN 978 0 7619 2793 8 Retrieved 17 March 2011 Finn Collin 1 January 2002 Social Reality CRC Press pp 217 ISBN 978 0 203 04792 7 Retrieved 17 March 2011 a b c Peter Wallace Preston 1996 Development Theory An Introduction Wiley Blackwell pp 87 ISBN 978 0 631 19555 9 Retrieved 17 March 2011 Martin Hollis 1994 The Philosophy of Social Science An Introduction Cambridge University Press pp 99 ISBN 978 0 521 44780 5 Retrieved 17 March 2011 The Rules of Sociological MethodExternal links editThe Rules of Sociological Method Chapter 5 Les regles de la methode sociologique 1919 French version in the Internet Archives Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Rules of Sociological Method amp oldid 1184151278, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,