Durkheim’s Sociological Insights on Social Facts
Rules Relating to the Observation of Social Facts
When a new order of phenomena becomes the object of science, such phenomena are already represented in the spirit not only by sensitive images, but also by certain concepts crudely formed. Therefore, reflection is prior to science, and science is responsible for using only the reflection of a more methodical manner. Man cannot live with things without formulating ideas about them, and regulating their conduct according to these ideas.
Social phenomena are natural events, subject to natural laws. Thus, one can recognize the character of such phenomena as things, as it does not exist in nature but with things.
In sociology, the ideological character of the reflections is very marked, so the analysis was wrong, in hindsight, of conceptions achieved (e.g., the Earth is square), considering that the thoughts and concepts formed are formed from the context in which they operate.
As an example, we have morality. The object of morals is not constituted by systems of rules, which have no reality but the idea of which derive the rules, and that they consist not only the various applications. Thus, all the questions frequently asked by ethics do not bind to things, but ideas; they consist of the idea of law, the idea of morality. This is what you want to know, not what the nature of morality and law is taken in itself. Our representation of morality, therefore, comes from the very spectacle of rules that operate under our eyes and are shown schematically. (For the moralist, your reflection always applies to ideas).
Falbo’s Commentary on Durkheim
By Falbo:
For Durkheim, the disorder is already established, so he is concerned about what may generate social order. Besides studying social facts and their characteristics (objectivity, coercivity – a penalty when the attitude is different than expected -, generality, and diversity). Social facts are collective modes of thinking, feeling, and acting. Our objective in these texts is to consider the law as a social fact, and if we think of the law as a social fact, according to Durkheim, we are faced with the right of the nineteenth century, namely the right to ensure social order.
Contextualizing, there is industrialization and liberalism, bringing inequalities and threatening social cohesion, since the economic system of liberalism (with the Industrial Revolution) threatens the social order. It is seen that, in addition to the accumulation of wealth, there is misery, suicide, disorganization of the family, etc. (Capitalism = PARADOX).
Note: Social fact, for common sense, represents everything that is produced in society.
The individual (a term coined in the nineteenth century meaning that which is independent of relations) is born without innate thoughts, without prejudices (INDIVIDUAL’S SOCIAL APARTADO), and from mechanisms of socialization (family, church, etc.), the individual is inserted into society.
Determinism – The man is good; it is society that corrupts him.
Note 2: ORDER (nineteenth century): unity, balance; ORDER (century): several orders whether economic or otherwise.
Social facts can lead to social sanctions (not provided by law, but arise from a social norm broken). Social facts are coercive, and coercivity is felt when not acting in accordance with the will and the overall design.
Kelsen and Durkheim: Defining the Object of Study
Kelsen defined the object of study of law, as Durkheim defined the object of study of sociology. Durkheim’s definition is an ideal of science: objectivity and generality. Durkheim takes care to characterize sociology as a science. Both characterized their objects of study as natural, Durkheim also positivistic.
The world is threatened by freedom and liberalism, the individual and individualism (to Durkheim). Thus, his concern is not about the individual, but rather social. No worries about the MAYHEM, but with the ORDER. Hence the definition of sociology as a theory, object, and method, referred to social order.
Note: The individual will not be the object of study of sociology, but of anthropology and psychology. Sociology cares for the social. The individual unions will be inserted into the object of study in psychology or social Psychosociology.
Durkheim has been considered a conservative sociologist, seeking ORDER; not worried about the change, since the change would alter the order, the balance (the thinker must be understood in the context of the nineteenth century). He seeks not a revolution, but conservation.
Conservative Order
Sociologist Order
Social Facts: Generality, Diversity, and Objectivity
Social facts are general in a society; however, they vary from society to society (e.g., French greeting: two kisses regardless of sex X Brazilian compliance: handshake). With the advance of capitalism, companies began to differentiate and thus it is impossible that social facts are common to all societies. Now we deal with several orders, and not a single order, as occurred in the context of Durkheim (for him, UNIT = ORDER, BALANCE).
The generality of social facts is because of the occurrence of such events in all societies, while its diversity requires the differentiation between social circles. The objectivity of social facts is due to these preceding individuals or being external to them.
Characteristics of Social Facts
In short, social facts are collective modes of thinking, feeling, and acting. They are characterized by coercivity, diversity, generality, and objectivity (externality regarding the admission of new members in society). From the mechanisms of socialization, internalized social facts are, since of course nobody has a way of thinking, feeling, or acting.
Moreover, social facts are imposed because of the need to preserve the group itself, with its members adhering to the social well (acting, thinking, and feeling as a group). Thus, social facts are earlier (preceding individuals), later (still exist for the purpose of individuals), and above (precedence over individuals).
Durkheim scientifically studied social facts, that is, by empirical observation (influenced by the advent of sciences of the time). Thus, it is an abstraction of context, distancing itself from conceptual analysis. Therefore, the social approaches of things, considering that it is analyzed empirically.