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Optional Paper - 1 > C4(2): Emile Durkheim > Flashcards

C4(2): Emile Durkheim Flashcards

1-11: Overview | 12-__: Social Facts

1
Q

Emile Durkheim talks about?

Syllabus of Emile Durkheim

A
  1. DOL
  2. Social Fact
  3. Suicide
  4. Religion and Society
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2
Q

Define Social Facts

A

Social facts are the social structures and cultural norms that constrain people in all areas of social life

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3
Q

Social facts are classified as?

A
  1. Material Social Facts
  2. Non - Material Social Facts
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4
Q

DOL is classified into?

A
  1. Functions of DOL
  2. Causes of DOL
  3. Abnormal Forms of DOL
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5
Q

Under Functions of DOL, Emile divided societies into?

State the differences with definition

A
  1. Primitive Society
    - Mechanical Solidarity
    - Low Interdependence
    - Low Material Density
    - Low Moral Density
  2. Modern Society
    - Organic Solidarity
    - High Interdependence
    - High Material Density
    - High Moral Density

Note: DOL ∝ Material Density & Moral Density

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6
Q

What are the Causes of DOL?

A
  1. Increase in material density (Increase in Population)
  2. Increase in moral density (Increase in Interactions)
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7
Q

What are the Abnormal Forms of DOL?

A
  1. Anomie - New rules and norms governing DOL do not arise
  2. Inequality - Resulting in discontent, tension, conflict
  3. Inadequate Organization - Resulting in disunity and disintegration
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8
Q

What are the two major reasons of suicide?

A
  1. Integration - Degree to which collective sentiments are shared
  2. Regulation - Degree of external constraints on people
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9
Q

What are the types of suicide?

A

There are 4 types which relate to integration and regulation:
1. Altruistic - High Integration - Suicide for the Good
(Eg) Military Soldier voluntary sacrifice for the nation
2. Egoistic - Low Integration - Individual feels isolated
(Eg) Young adult feeling alienated in modern society
3. Fatalistic - High Regulation - Oppressed by rampant rules
(Eg) Child taking life for stringent rules imposed by parents
4. Anomic - Low Regulation - Feeling of purposelessness during upheaval (Society fails to provide norms)
(Eg) Financial trader taking life during a financial crisis

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10
Q

What are the two basic components of Religion?

A
  1. Beliefs - Collective representations
  2. Rites - Modes of action determined by Beliefs
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11
Q

Religious beliefs are classified into?

A
  1. Sacred (Pavithra)
  2. Profane (Apavithra)

Note: There is a middle ground which is Mundane, which states that it is neither of them

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12
Q

Define Physical World and Social World

A

Durkheim in his book: Montesquieu and Rousseau

Physical World: Directly observable facts

Social World: Indirectly observable facts

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13
Q

Nature of social facts

A

Social facts are external and coercive in nature.

They should be treated as things

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14
Q

How did Durkheim differentiate Sociology from Psychology and Philosophy?

A
  1. By empirical research
  2. Social facts - External and coercive
  3. Psychological facts - Internal (Inherent)
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15
Q

What are the characteristics of Social Facts? (Hint: ECGI)

A
  1. Externality
  2. Constraint
  3. Generality
  4. Independence
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16
Q

What are Material Social Facts?

Provide examples - Basic and Linked to Generality

A

Real, material entities which define the externality of the social facts
(Eg) Law and Architecture

(Eg) Descending order of Generality
- Society
- Structural Components of Society
(Such as Church and the State)
- Morphological Components of Society
(Population distribution, and communication channels)

17
Q

What are Non Material Social Facts?

Provide examples - Basic and Linked to Generality

A

Non - material entities which are found in the mind of actors
(Eg) Culture and Norms

(Eg) Descending order of Generality
(Not stringent)
- Collective Conscience
- Morality
- Collective Representation
- Social Currents (Waves of enthusiasm (or) indignation)

18
Q

Study of Social Facts (Hint: OCDE)

A
  1. Observation: Identifying manifestations and symbols
  2. Classification: Grouping diverse set of facts into broader categories
  3. Distinction: Difference between Normal and Pathological
  4. Explanation: Define precisely - Complete objectivity
19
Q

Define DOL

A

Splitting up an activity into number of smaller processes which are undertaken by different persons or groups of persons

20
Q

Adam Smith about DOL (Source his work)

A

Adam Smith in his book Wealth of Nations (1776) said that DOL is the primary source of economic progress

21
Q

Transition from Primitive to Modern Society and emphasize on how is it achieved?

A

Rise in Population leads to Conflict for sharing limited resources and to achieve peaceful coexistence the society transits from mechanical solidarity to organic solidarity

This occurs because of dynamic density

22
Q

Define Dynamic Density

A

Dynamic density is the increase in material density and moral density

23
Q

DOL as a social fact

A
  1. Exists everywhere such as Family, Religion, and so on
  2. It is sui - generis, that is it evolves with society
  3. Integrates people
24
Q

Law - Primitive Society v/s Modern Society

A

Primitive Society - Repressive Laws
Strong common morality - anyone caused an issue seen as a damage to common morality rather damage to a specific individual

Modern Society - Restitutive Laws
Weak common morality - anyone caused an issue seen as a damage to a specific person/group rather to common morality

25
Q

Anomie

A
  1. Individuals do not face sufficient moral constraints and do not know what is not proper and acceptable behavior
  2. Durkheim says anomie as a Social Pathology caused due to rise of organic solidarity and isolation in modern society with minimal regulation
26
Q

Define Suicide

A

Any death caused directly/indirectly, by a positive/negative action of the victim himself which he knows will produce this result

27
Q

Broadly, Cause of Suicide is?

A

Changes in collective sentiments lead to changes in social currents contributed to increase in suicide rates

28
Q

Generally, Cause of Egoistic Suicide is?

A

Social disintegration leads to currents of depression and disillusionment contributing to suicide

Note(1): Strongly integrated group discourages suicide

Note(2): Religion protects man against the desire for self - destruction and it supports integration of religious community

29
Q

Suicide as a social fact

A
  1. Rate of suicide of various societies is fairly constant
  2. Suicide is not a psychological phenomenon - As normal people committed suicide whereas ill people did not
  3. Suicidogenic Forces: Integration and Regulation
  4. Certain rate of suicide is considered as normal
30
Q

Define Religion (and Source)

A

Book: The Elementary Forms of Religious Life (1912)

Religion is a unified system of beliefs and rites focused on sacred things—things considered special and set apart. It brings together everyone who follows these beliefs and practices into a single moral community, often called a Church.

31
Q

What is the dynamogenic quality of Religion?

A

Religion has the capability not only to dominate the individuals but also to elevate them above their ordinary abilities and capabilities

32
Q

What is totem?

A

Material representation of the non - material force

Note: Durkheim refers non - material as society and refers totem as the symbol of society

33
Q

Durkheim’s views on Science?

A

All those who follow science - integrate with each other and it becomes a common source of identity

Therefore, he refers science as a modern religion

Optional Paper - 1 (4 decks)

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