Durkheim’s contributions to social science

Provide a brief overview of Durkheim’s contributions to social science and address the following questions:

How did Durkheim’s work and research form a foundational basis of sociology?
What are the strengths and shortcomings of sociological approaches that trace their origins to Durkheim?
What type of questions could Durkheim’s work best address today?
How might you use this approach in your research on either Human Services or Business Ethics?

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Sample Answer

here is a brief overview of Durkheim’s contributions to social science and answers to your questions:

  • How did Durkheim’s work and research form a foundational basis of sociology?

Durkheim is considered one of the founders of sociology. His work helped to establish sociology as a distinct academic discipline, separate from philosophy, psychology, and economics. He argued that sociology should be a scientific study of social facts, which he defined as objective, external forces that constrain individual behavior. Durkheim’s work also helped to develop the concepts of social solidarity, collective conscience, and anomie.

  • What are the strengths and shortcomings of sociological approaches that trace their origins to Durkheim?

The strengths of sociological approaches that trace their origins to Durkheim include their focus on objective social facts, their emphasis on the importance of social order, and their ability to explain social phenomena in a systematic way. However, these approaches have also been criticized for being too deterministic and for neglecting the role of individual agency.

Full Answer Section

  • What type of questions could Durkheim’s work best address today?

Durkheim’s work could be used to address a wide range of questions about modern society, including:

* How does social solidarity change in a modern, diverse society?
* How does anomie contribute to social problems such as crime and suicide?
* What are the functions of social institutions such as the family, the school, and the workplace?
* How do social norms and values shape individual behavior?
  • How might you use this approach in your research on either Human Services or Business Ethics?

In human services, Durkheim’s work could be used to understand the social factors that contribute to poverty, homelessness, and other social problems. It could also be used to develop interventions that promote social solidarity and reduce anomie.

In business ethics, Durkheim’s work could be used to understand the social norms and values that guide corporate behavior. It could also be used to develop ethical frameworks for businesses to follow.

Here are some specific examples of how Durkheim’s work could be used in research on human services and business ethics:

  • A researcher studying poverty could use Durkheim’s concept of social solidarity to examine how the breakdown of social ties contributes to poverty.
  • A researcher studying homelessness could use Durkheim’s concept of anomie to examine how the lack of clear social norms and values contributes to homelessness.
  • A researcher studying corporate social responsibility could use Durkheim’s work to understand the social expectations that businesses have to meet.
  • A researcher studying ethical decision-making in business could use Durkheim’s work to examine the role of social norms and values in shaping individual choices.

Overall, Durkheim’s work provides a valuable framework for understanding the social forces that shape human behavior. His work can be used to address a wide range of questions about modern society, and it can be applied to a variety of research areas, including human services and business ethics.

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