Sociology and Social Facts (Group 8)

Paragraph 1 - Noor Riaz

Durkheim discusses how sociology has only become more widely known in more recent years. However, sociology is not seen as a ‘progressive science’ as it does not offer concrete solutions to real world problems. Sociology is often discredited as too broad, as it offers solutions that do not fit one particular case. Instead, it provides a framework that can be applied to a wide range of issues, as solutions cannot be formed by a ‘one size fits all’ attitude. Critics are more in favor of the scientific method, and argue that the sociological approach is too broad of a generalization, lacks objectivity, and that it cannot make any progress (by offering new laws and facts) in the social world. This can be related to contemporary phenomenon in social issues such as homelessness, where one solution doesn’t fit all. Every individual’s historical experiences, circumstances and many other factors come in play and need to be taken into account to form a personalized solution.

Comment by Rita Qiao Li; As a sociology student, I think this subject is a type of social science, and it has its own special scientific methods to test and develop new theories. However, this is different from those pure science subjects like math or physics which have one solution corresponding to one particular question. From the sociological perspective, every case in the social world occurs in a particular circumstance in which many deep factors might be involved. These factors have different effects on the people involved in the case, and apparently, one solution for it does not help solve the whole problem related to the case. We need to be aware of this and strive to find appropriate solutions that fit each problem respectively.

Paragraph 2 - Danielle Tognetti

Durkheim talks about the importance of the sociological perspective compared to the scientific perspective. What the scientific approach does is forms one conclusion to a scenario, but the set back is that it doesn’t apply to all situations. Where as sociology questions the complexity of all the situations, and has a range of answers. The scientific approach limits the answers, and so one argument or claim cannot explain all scenarios. In the beginning of the text, it discusses how if science is so reliable we wouldn’t need sociology. Meaning, if one solution could hypothetically solve all sociological problems then sociology wouldn’t play such a big roll in academia. To conclude, the sociological perspective questions the complexities of the situation, one conclusion doesn’t fit all situations.

Paragraph 3 - Namra Qarni

Durkheim emphasizes the importance of disconnecting the literature done on suicide in terms of the scientific approach from the sociological approach on suicide. He discusses the sociological imperative to demonstrate a more accurate representation on the literature done on suicide because it conforms with the society at the time it is being researched. Suicide has a seismic shift with society's needs and wants that change-over-time. Thus, it cannot be measured in a scientific and concrete manner. According to Durkheim, sociological factors are a better and more rational way of reasoning and understanding and making interpretations on suicide. They construct arguments about suicide in a more convincing way. They lay propositions and claims that help the reader deduce their own opinions on suicide rather than giving a concrete solid answer that applies to all situations.In the contemporary world, suicide can be seen as something that comes under the umbrella term of 'mental health'. It is still a very important issue in today's society, along with other mental health issues that our society faces today.

Paragraph 4 & 5 - Lukas Domingo

Durkheim believes that restricting the research by no means deprives an individual of general views. However, as a society we have a tendency to establish concrete ideas of certain aspects of life, which acts as a instructional guide on how these aspects should be conducted. He continues to state that general ideas are in no sense conducted and explained through generalities. There are more ways in explaining these "general conditions" through "generalities". He goes on to say that it may be related to particular explanations that can only be identified when studied through the public demonstration of such. He even talks about how European societies will make adjustments concerning such aspects, but their changes will be detrimental to their societies. The example of Suicide he uses explains the type of help it has for us to understand such phenomena.

Paragraph 6 - Rachel Man

Durkheim states that instead of only studying human in psychological level, sociology studies the society as an object to understand how individuals act and think collectively. He believes social institution is the main element that influences our daily life, for example family is one of the social institutions. Family can affect human’s values. Durkheim argues that history has affected on the social institution and the social institution is the foundation of how do people should act in the society. From Durkheim’s idea, we could relate to Weber’s concept of the spirit of capitalism that how religious as a social institution affect the thoughts of individuals and influence people’s engagement in workforce. By looking at how people from physical and psychological perspective, sociology can study human in a “bigger picture” of why they act and think collectively.

Paragraph 7 - Jingjing Tan

Durkheim argued that society exists as an objective fact and there are different societies with their own distinct social facts. Individuals are part of the society, which serves as a “collective reality.” Durkheim employed the scientific method to observe the collective reality in his research. He showed that the rates of suicide within and across societies varied reliably according to different social factors like marital status, family, army, religious participation. The structures of the society have power, which have significant impacts on each individual’s behaviour. Durkheim emphasized that suicide is a social fact, and it is not simply caused by the individual act, but rather these social factors.

I think his methodology created a precedent for the future social research. With his approach, a whole new angle of investigation opened up. A lot of researchers are still using observation and experimentation to study social phenomenon.

A question to consider: Durkheim’s Suicide was considered the first systematic research of a social fact in the society, what are the implications of his methodology/study?