1. (d) Durkheim argued that society is more than the sum of individual acts. Discuss. (2022/P1/10/Emile Durkheim)

Emile Durkheim, a founding figure in sociology, argued that society is more than the sum of individual acts in his seminal work, "The Division of Labor in Society" (1893) and later in "Suicide: A Study in Sociology" (1897). Durkheim was particularly interested in understanding the social forces that bind individuals together and maintain social order. The concept that society is more than the sum of individual acts is encapsulated in his theory of social facts and the notion of "collective consciousness."
Durkheim's key arguments include:
Social Facts:
Durkheim introduced the concept of social facts, which he defined as external, constraining forces that shape individual behavior. These social facts exist independently of individuals and exert influence over them. Examples of social facts include norms, values, institutions, and social structures.
Collective Consciousness:
Durkheim proposed the idea of a collective consciousness, which represents the shared beliefs, values, and moral sentiments that bind individuals together in a society. This collective consciousness is not merely an aggregation of individual consciousness but a distinctive force that shapes and guides behavior.
Social Integration:
Durkheim argued that a high degree of social integration, or the strength of social bonds, contributes to social stability and cohesion. Strong social integration helps prevent anomie, a state of normlessness and breakdown of social order.
Division of Labor:
In "The Division of Labor in Society," Durkheim explored how the division of labor contributes to social solidarity. He distinguished between mechanical solidarity, characteristic of traditional societies with a low division of labor, and organic solidarity, found in modern industrial societies with a complex division of labor.
In essence, Durkheim's argument is that society possesses characteristics and forces that transcend individual actions. The social order is not a mere aggregate of individual behaviors but is shaped by shared values, norms, and social structures. Durkheim emphasized the importance of understanding these social forces to comprehend the nature of social cohesion and stability.
This perspective contrasts with methodological individualism, which suggests that social phenomena can be entirely explained by understanding individual actions. Durkheim's emphasis on social facts and collective consciousness underscores the idea that society is an entity in itself, with its own properties and dynamics that cannot be reduced solely to the actions of its individual members.

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