The Rules of Sociological Method

The Rules of Sociological Method
Cover of the 1919 French edition
AuthorÉmile Durkheim
Original titleLes Règles de la méthode sociologique
LanguageFrench
SubjectSociology
Publication date
1895
Publication placeFrance
Media typePrint
French Wikisource has original text related to this article:

The Rules of Sociological Method (French: Les Règles de la méthode sociologique) is a book by Émile Durkheim, first published in 1895. It is recognized as being the direct result of Durkheim's own project of establishing sociology as a positivist social science.[1][2] Durkheim is seen as one of the fathers of sociology,[3] and this work, his manifesto of sociology.[4] Durkheim distinguishes sociology from other sciences and justifies his rationale.[1] Sociology is the science of social facts. Durkheim suggests two central theses, without which sociology would not be a science:

  1. It must have a specific object of study. Unlike philosophy or psychology, sociology's proper object of study are social facts.
  2. It must respect and apply a recognized objective scientific method, bringing it as close as possible to the other exact sciences. This method must at all cost avoid prejudice and subjective judgment.[5]

This book was one of the defining books for the new science of sociology.[6] Durkheim's argument that social sciences should be approached with the same rigorous scientific method as used in natural sciences was seen as revolutionary for the time.[6]

The Rules is seen as an important text in sociology and is a popular book on sociological theory courses. The book's meaning is still being debated by sociologists.[7][8]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Popolo2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Kate Reed (2006). New Directions in Social Theory: Race, Gender and the Canon. SAGE. pp. 27–. ISBN 978-0-7619-4270-2. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  3. ^ Lisa F. Berkman; Ichirō Kawachi (2000). Social Epidemiology. Oxford University Press US. pp. 138–. ISBN 978-0-19-508331-6. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  4. ^ Émile Durkheim (1982). The Rules of Sociological Method. Simon and Schuster. pp. 2–. ISBN 978-0-02-907940-9. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  5. ^ Patricia Leavy (30 July 2008). Method Meets Art: Arts-based Research Practice. Guilford Press. pp. 5–. ISBN 978-1-59385-259-7. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  6. ^ a b Ferreol & Noreck (2009). Introduction to Sociology. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. pp. 12–. ISBN 978-81-203-3940-8. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  7. ^ W. S. F. Pickering (2001). Emile Durkheim: Critical Assessments of Leading Sociologists. Taylor & Francis. pp. 232–. ISBN 978-0-415-20562-7. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  8. ^ Michael R. Hill; Susan Hoecker-Drysdale (15 November 2002). Harriet Martineau: Theoretical and Methodological Perspectives. Psychology Press. pp. 80–. ISBN 978-0-415-94528-8. Retrieved 17 March 2011.