Prelims · 6 Indian Society · 6.2 Western thinkers

6.2.1 Emile Durkheim: social facts, solidarity, suicide and anomie

Durkheim, the French founder of academic sociology, held that society is a reality of its own, made of "social facts" that constrain individuals, and showed even suicide to be shaped by how strongly society integrates and regulates people.

  • APPSC Group 2 · Prelims
  • Standard level
  • 9 min read
  • Full course

Key terms

  • Durkheim
  • social facts
  • collective conscience
  • mechanical solidarity
  • organic solidarity
  • repressive law
  • restitutive law
  • anomie
  • egoistic suicide
  • altruistic suicide
  • anomic suicide
  • fatalistic suicide
  • sacred and profane
  • totemism

What this note covers

  1. Core factsFoundation
  2. ExplainedStandard
  3. DeeperAdvanced
  4. Mains writingMains writing
  5. Common trapsFoundation
  6. Quick revisionFoundation

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