Sociology

Q1

According to Durkheim social fact refers to any way of acting whether capable, fixed or not by exerting to an individual the external constraint. He also referred to it as the general way of a given society to exist on its own. He argues that sociology should be understood in accordance with the empirical study relating to social facts (Baert & Silva, 2010).

The social facts are external to an individual as they consist of thinking and acting. This is because they are invested in a coercive power that exercises control over the individual (Baert & Silva, 2010). The individuals experience the constraint through consciousness that affects the way they make decisions affecting their daily lives.

Q2

Durkheim definition of socialism argues that workers are exploited by the capitalists who are driven by their private interests instead of social interests (Smith, 2014). Due to the power, the capitalist has they exploit the workers as they can live without engaging in economic activities. This is because the workers sell their labor in order to survive.

Socialism is a manifestation of the ill of all times as the orthodox economists argue that competition amongst the capitalist reduces their power of exploitation to zero (Baert & Silva, 2010).  He argues that the individuals who possess a weapon of labor are exploited hence making them sell it less that it is really worth. It is the ill of all times as workers suffer deprivation as they are forced to sell their labor.

Q3

Durkheim observed that the division of labor was not an effect of human wisdom but as a result of human propensity nature which is prolonged past the financial viability of the world. It did not only embrace political, legal actions but also administrative actions (Baert & Silva, 2010). Durkheim viewed that the distribution of labor merely applies to human being communities together with the biological creatures in general.

Durkheim concept of anomie is that humans are living things whose wants are limitless, distinct from the natural world that are contented with their organic wants. In the modern society, anomie may create social changes by stimulating human desires. Anomie conditions can be undone because of the danger it carries as it deceives people into believing that they depend on themselves only (Smith, 2014).

Q4

According to Durkheim communism is the doctrine that advocates for a rigid control of the economic activities. This is done by the central organs of the societies that are primarily motivated by the sense of danger of the economic interests that are uncontrolled to the higher end of the community (Smith, 2014). The situation is based on recurring problems of the society at all times thus not bound on any particular social situation.

Socialism is a doctrine that refers to the union of the economic interests which is done by the controlling system of the society. The doctrine is applied in the current situation in the western society though not much control by the state (Baert & Silva, 2010). It underlies the economic view of the society and no questioning of the maximum wealth to the end.

Q5

According to Durkheim rituals are held around a sacred object as it is a fundamental source of collective conscience as it provides the individual with a deeper meaning that binds them in the society (Smith, 2014). The participation of the individuals in the rites put together individuals in social order in their day to day life.

Sacred is one of Durkheim’s idea that refers to the things that the human being set aside such as the religion belief, deities or things that are extraordinary (Baert & Silva, 2010). Profane is another rite that refers to the utilitarian activities that maintain subordination and coordination in the system that constitutes in a religion.

Q6

Totemism is a religious sentiment that emanates totem meaning a brother-sister kin. According to Durkheim, it is complex as it has various ideas and behaviors that are based on a global view of nature (Smith, 2014). it is mystical, reverential, emotional, ideological and genealogical relationships of a given social group.

The sacredness of the objects arises from its focus on the ritual behavior of beliefs, ideas, souls and ancestor worship that has a historical understanding. The kingdom of profane is a routine experience that corresponds with a part which is known as logico-experimental practice. Profane embraces the ideas, persons, and practices that relate to an everyday attitude of, utility, familiarity, and practices (Baert & Silva, 2010).

Q7

Durkheim sociological thought was tied on the sociology of religion as he attempted to show individual religious commitments that can be traced back to the society commitments. His sociology was postulated in a man’s thought through his ways of conceiving time and space that can be in his social mode of life (Smith, 2014). Durkheim achieved it through maintaining a temporal, spatial and other thought of the society organization that included primitive people.

Natural order of the society according to Durkheim is whose desires are not limited and the realm of social activities follows the natural desires of the individuals in the society that are held by external controls in the well-regulated societies that unclearly recognizes the extreme limits set by the ambitions (Baert & Silva, 2010).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

Baert, P., & Silva, F. C. (2010). Social theory in the twentieth century and beyond. Cambridge, U.K: Polity.

Smith, K. (2014). Émile Durkheim and the collective consciousness of society: A study in criminology.