Durkheim on Totemism - 1573 Words

In order to truly assess the legitimacy of Durkheim s functionalist definition of religion, his notion of Social facts, (upon which his theory is constructed) must be examined. Durkheim advocated that amongst the reputable fields of biology, psychology and history, Sociology also warranted a specific focus. It was, for him: a sui generis something that had to be explained on its own terms. Sociology was not, for Durkheim, a field that should be susceptible to overlapping subject matter: he believed that there existed concrete social facts recognisable by the power of eternal coercion which they are capable of exercising over individuals. This claim is an imperative one because it is the platform on which his functionalist†¦show more content†¦Such a abstract ineffable sensation demanded (In Durkheim s words) something material and tangible through which to be expressed. This emphasis on the external being internalised is similar to Radcliffe-Brown who believed religious a cts were an expression of a sense of dependance on a power outside ourselves . Durkheim noted how one cannot detect the source of the strong feelings we have in an abstract entity but can comprehend those feelings only in connection with a concrete object Such an object he labeled totemic, conveying how in primitive societies these miscellaneous items were believed to be endowed with sacredness. Such objects (or animals or plants) were and still are worshipped vehemently, they are bestowed with the utmost respect as tribal systems are constructed around them. But (apart from their physical form or lack of it) he did not envisage this relationship between the abstract and material as a conjunction of different entities: the sociologist stated that if such a symbol represents God and society Is this not because God and society are one and the same thing?. One must note Durkheim was an Agnostic, not a staunch atheist, religion was very much a real concept for him, in the sense t hat it was derived from something very concrete: it was a process by which mankind expresses social facts. Although this representation is symbolic and metaphorical,Show MoreRelatedComparison Between Durkheim And Freud s Theory Of Religion1110 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout this essay, an attempt to compare and contrast two key theorists approach to the study of religion namely Durkheim and Freud will take place. This will consist of four stages, firstly an introduction comprising of a definition of religion by Durkheim will occur. Secondly a comparison and contrast of the approaches by Freud and Durkheim to the study of religion, as well as the strength and weaknesses of these approaches and lastly a presentation of a conclusion will occur. A number ofRead More Functionality of Religion: Emil Durkheim’s Elementary Forms of Religious Life1529 Words   |  7 Pagesreligion and its influence on society. Durkheim defined religion as â€Å"a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden -- beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them.†1 Hence Durkheim’s emphasis is on the function of religion as a unifier of individuals. In order to illustrate his theory of religion, Durkheim then introduces the Totemism of Australian aborigines as an exampleRead MoreEmile Durkheim Was A French Sociologist And Philosopher.1003 Words   |  5 PagesEmile Durkheim was a French sociologist and philosopher. One of his most prominent interests as a scholar was religion. In particular, the manner in which religion has developed throughout the history of the human race. While Durkheim wrote a good deal on religion, perhaps his most important work on religion was written in The Elementary Forms of Religious Life. In this work, Durkheim examines Australian Totem religious as fundamental forms of the human religious experience. His ideas regarding religionRead MoreDurkheim s Sociological Perspective On Religion1733 Words   |  7 Pagessociological approach to religion. Several central aspects of Durkheim’s approach are defined, including the concepts of religion, clan, and totem. The Totemic Principle and how it can be applied to religion is also discussed. Supporting evidence for Durkheim is offered through Eliade, while dissension is offered by Malinowski. This work concludes with an example of Durkheim’s ideas applied to the story of Lame Deer. Background Any discussion of Durkheim’s views on religion from a sociological perspectiveRead MoreReligion Is A Social Phenomenon770 Words   |  4 Pages According to Durkheim religion is a social phenomenon in his book he said (religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden) Durkheim thinks that even the concept of an individual is a product of social reality if people want know the origins of religion he argues, they should try to find out what happened in the distant past, rather you should examine what he calls universal human needs, and these universal humanRead MoreMarx, Weber, And Social Distress972 Words   |  4 PagesWhen it comes to the perspectives of Marx, Weber, and Durkheim they each contribute different views when it comes to the field and address problems of advert of modernity. One problem with the context of modernity is that in a society, religious factors increase on the foundations of rationalism. Many people of the day questioned religion and had no need for a God. Marx was born in 1818 and was the earliest of the other thinkers. The crazy thing is that he wrote very little as it is about religionRead MoreEmile Durkheim s Influence On Society850 Words   |  4 PagesÉmile Durkheim was born in France in 1858 to a Jewish family and started attending a rabbinical school at a young age but eventually decided not to continue on that path and instead became an agnostic. He eventually went on to become a philosophy teacher and is considered to have played a pivotal roll in the rise of sociology. Durkheim believed that society shaped every aspect of human thought and behavior. He promoted the importance of society and suggests that without it things like art, familyRead MoreReligion as a Conservative Force Essay936 Words   |  4 Pagesand used as a means by which to maintain the existing order of Society and the Status Quo. Some Sociologists such as Durkheim and Marx would agree with this and there are others who would argue against such a claim. It is a debate, one side says Religion inhibits change and the other says it sets social change in motion. As already mentioned Durkheim believed that Religion acts as a Conservative Force. In more detail what he actually thought was that Religious worshipRead MoreWhat Is A Symbol1827 Words   |  8 PagesCollective Thought vs. Individual Thought: Discussing the Categories of Understanding When discussing the use of symbols in both Durkheim and Strauss’ works, it is important for us to look at how both thinkers talk about the categories of understanding. In Elementary Forms, Durkheim believes the categories of understanding are grounded in the social, using Australian totemism to explain how the primitive mind used symbols derived from collective thought to create the ways in which we categorize ideasRead MoreAssess the usefulness of functionalist theories in understanding religion today965 Words   |  4 Pagesmentioned, functionalists argue that social order and solidarity to run smoothly – Durkheim argued that there are four main ways in which religion maintains value consensus. One way is through the sacred and profane, he argued that sacred referred to things that are separate from society and create feelings of awe, wonder and fear whereas profane referred to things that were inferior with no real significance. Durkheim therefore argued that the on ly thing powerful enough to inspire people in the way