French sociologist Emile Durkheim is well known functionalist. In his writings of concept of function takes a greater methodological significance and he is widely regarded as a functionalist by sociologists and social anthropologists .Functionalism for Durkheim was his alternative to both Comte ‘ s and Spencer ‘s teleological method . Much of Durkheim‘s work is concerned with function analysis, with seeking to understand the functional of social facts. He believes that society has certain functional prerequisites. These functional prerequisites play a crucial role in the maintenance of “ social order .”
The task of functional analysis is to clarify how institution and other social phenomena contribute to the maintenance of the social whole. Durkheim established the logic of the functional approach to the study of society by establishing a clear distinction between historical and functional types of enquiry and between functional consequences and individual motivations. The determination of function, says Durkheim , is necessary for the complete explanation of the phenomena … to explain a social fact is not enough to show the cause on which it depends :we must also show its function in the establishment of social order .
On the other hand, Haralambos sees Durkheim’s position on functional analysis in his concept “ collective conscience “ the collective conscience constrains individuals to act in terms of the requirements of society since the collective conscience is a social fact and therefore external to the individual it is essential that it be imposed upon him. Durkheim’s functionalism may be illustrated in the theory of Religion social order requires that individuals experience society within themselves realise their dependents upon it and recognise their obligations which are fundamentally social .
By symbolising society and so making it sacred religion meets these requirements. It makes social life possible by expressing, maintaining and reinforcing the sentiments or values which form the collective conscience .social obligations are represented in sacred terms and so transformed into religious dutie…. In symbolising society , religion awakens in the individual an appreciation of his reliance integrates the social group since those who share religious beliefs “ feel themselves United to each other by the simple fact that they have a common faith ,” The highly charged atmosphere of religious rituals serves to dramatise this unity and so promotes social solidarity. In this way religion functions to meet the essential requirement s of social life.
Conclusion
Durkheim’s monographic studies have proved the importance of purely social factors in the explanation of varied social phenomena. We can hardly ignore the social facts and the underlying forces. Durkheim is one of the key classical theorists in social science in general and sociology in particular .He is best know for finding sociology as a scientific discipline and defining the boundaries of its subject matter.
Durkheim has a major contribution in sociological concepts, perspectives approaches method and theories ,.He belongs to the functional school of thought. In this context, he tries to establish a distinct discipline of society , called sociology . Her , his primary concern was to discuss the issue of social solidarity or integaration of society .He mainly gives emphasis on the notion on sui generis .Durkheim in fact ,is not only concerned with the discussion of society as a whole but also the rise of individualism in society.
However, his method of explaining and characterizing social; order, as Durkheim discussed, is mainly focuses on consensus model of society. Durkheimian sociology is consider as most scientific in his explanation by the different contemporary sociologist. He discussed the nature and scope of sociology in his methodological part of writings. The rules of sociologist method is a programmatic statement about the causes of sociology as a discipline, which must have its own distinctive subject matter and methodology. In this sense, he deals with the concept of social facts that are external to individual. Durkheim here causal functional analysis, their genesis and their functioning Durkheim has applied his methodical orientation of social facts and the notion of si-generis in throughout his sociological writings.
Durkheim throughout his writings, tries to establish relationships between society and individual. However his center theme is the primacy of society over the individual this fact can be seen in his major writhing derision of labour in society suicide and the elementary from of religions live, in these writings Durkheim emphasized on the concept of collective conscience. Durkheim describes collective conscience as “the body of beliefs and sentiments common to the average members of a society “ in the division of labor in society Durkheim makes a fruitful attempt for the analysis of different types of society terms of traditional or trivial society (organic solidarity ) and modern society organic solidarity )in evolutionary way, in society in terms of traditional or trivial society (organic solidarity) and modern society (organic solidarity) in evolutionary way in which he tries to fiend out the causes of suicide in the social rule rather then individual or psychological phenomena letter part of his work, sociology of religion gives emphasis on the phenomenon of social cohesion, in sociology of religion he discovers the not of religious activity in the concept of tatamis a primitive and most simple from religion of the aruratries of an Australian aboriginal Durkheim would always be remembered for his contribution in the field of sociology as an distinct discipline.
Durkheim however is not free from criticism he mainly has been criticized for giving more emphasis on collectivity. He only emphasised on well integrated society. In this way he could not see the social function of conflict. As we know, conflict is also found in every type of society whether the society his primitive or modern. The difference only in the nature and frequency of the conflict. In addition to it, he could not adequately stress the role of differences of dissension in human society. Despite his various criticism,he still acknowledged as a pioneer and outstanding sociologist.
For Durkheim the subject matter of sociology should be the study of social facts. These are “things” external to the individual but constraining and overwhelming individual behaviour. Norms, values and culture are good examples of non-material social facts. Other social facts include social morality, collective conscience and religion. Difference only in the nature and frequency of the conflict. He therefore, criticized for not making any contribution in the social conflict. In dissension in human society. Despite his various criticism the still acknowledge as a pioneer and outstanding sociologist.