French sociologist who founded sociology as a distinct academic discipline — arguing that social facts are sui generis, irreducible to individual psychology.
Social facts: social phenomena exist independently of individuals and exercise coercive force — sociology is the science of social facts. Suicide: a study of apparently individual acts as socially determined — anomic, egoistic, and altruistic suicide rates vary with social integration. The Division of Labor in Society: mechanical solidarity (similarity) vs. organic solidarity (interdependence). The Elementary Forms of Religious Life: religion is society worshipping itself — the sacred/profane distinction.
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