Biography of Emile Durkheim
Biography of Durkheim and his contribution to criminological thought- (1000 words, 30%)
David Emile Durkheim, who was a French Sociologist, was born on April 15th in Epinal, France, 1858. He is arguably the most influential figure in western sociology and also immensely significant in criminology. He lived until the age of 59 when he suffered a stroke after he had recovered for a sufficient amount of time he then continued with his work however he eventually died, in Paris, on November 15th, 1917. He was, and is still today, one of the many key thinkers in the field of criminology. Durkheim said himself that it was mainly influenced by the philosopher August Comte. He wrote about ten books though is probably best known for his books on ‘suicide’ and ‘the division of labour in society’. Four extra pieces of work were published posthumously.
Durkheim attended Collège d 'Epinal where he was so advanced intellectually that he was able to skip two years, where he obtained his bachelors in letters (1874) and sciences in (1875). After leaving Epinal he left for Paris to attend Ecole and despite his unfortunate, constant fear of failure, which overwhelmed him throughout life. He was soon an advocate of the republican cause; he also reserved special praise for Leon Gambetta, ‘the brilliant orator and spiritual embodiment of the third republic’ (Jones, R.A, 1986). After passing his exams Durkheim eventually began teaching philosophy in 1882. Durkheim also wrote articles mainly on German philosophy and ‘social science’. These had received acknowledgment from Louis lizard, director of higher education in France, also a devoted republican. He was intrigued by Durkheim’s ideas on a scientific French morality. So in 1887 Emile Durkheim was appointed in charge of the social sciences and it was here than ‘Sociology’ first officially entered the French university system.
He is commonly cited as the principal architect of the modern social science and the
David Emile Durkheim, who was a French Sociologist, was born on April 15th in Epinal, France, 1858. He is arguably the most influential figure in western sociology and also immensely significant in criminology. He lived until the age of 59 when he suffered a stroke after he had recovered for a sufficient amount of time he then continued with his work however he eventually died, in Paris, on November 15th, 1917. He was, and is still today, one of the many key thinkers in the field of criminology. Durkheim said himself that it was mainly influenced by the philosopher August Comte. He wrote about ten books though is probably best known for his books on ‘suicide’ and ‘the division of labour in society’. Four extra pieces of work were published posthumously.
Durkheim attended Collège d 'Epinal where he was so advanced intellectually that he was able to skip two years, where he obtained his bachelors in letters (1874) and sciences in (1875). After leaving Epinal he left for Paris to attend Ecole and despite his unfortunate, constant fear of failure, which overwhelmed him throughout life. He was soon an advocate of the republican cause; he also reserved special praise for Leon Gambetta, ‘the brilliant orator and spiritual embodiment of the third republic’ (Jones, R.A, 1986). After passing his exams Durkheim eventually began teaching philosophy in 1882. Durkheim also wrote articles mainly on German philosophy and ‘social science’. These had received acknowledgment from Louis lizard, director of higher education in France, also a devoted republican. He was intrigued by Durkheim’s ideas on a scientific French morality. So in 1887 Emile Durkheim was appointed in charge of the social sciences and it was here than ‘Sociology’ first officially entered the French university system.
He is commonly cited as the principal architect of the modern social science and the
References: Newburn, T, (2009). Key reading in Criminology. Oxfordshire: Willan Publishing. Jones, R. A. (1986). Emile Durkheim: An Introduction to Four Major Works. California: Sage Publications, Inc. Breathnach, S, (2002). Emile Durkheim on crime and punishment (an exegesis) USA: Dissertation.Com Vito. G. F. Maahs. J. R, (2012). Criminology- theory, research and policy, Third edition. USA: Jones & Bartlett Learning