www.orderwriters.com - How useful do you find Durkheim’s notion of a “social fact”?

How useful do you find Durkheim’s notion of a “social fact”?

Below you will find some questions to help guide you

in your first section essay. Remember, the essay functions as both a personal

reflection and an analysis on the material covered. The idea is to demonstrate that

you have understood important aspects of the material and are able to utilize the

new theoretical perspectives to understand or reevaluate issues or topics. There is

not a specific approach to take, though you may consider focusing on a contemporary

topic through the lens of the readings. Another viable approach is to critique the

theoretical positions in the Section and provide alternative explanations.  The

response should be between 4-6 pages, double-spaced, 12pt font.  Be sure to cite

your sources using ASA style.

Potential Ideas for Section Essay #1

1. Durkheim presents a strong notion of social structure that restricts the amount

of autonomy or free will an individual has. Do you agree with this view? Why or why

not? What implications are there for either position (strong social structure/weak

autonomy; weak social structure/strong autonomy)?

2. Durkheim argues that social cohesion arises out of our division of labor,

particularly as it necessitates a type of tacit reliance and cooperation. How does

this contrast with the popular notion of “rugged individualism” in the US?

Alternatively, Garfinkel suggests a view of social order that is premised more on

habitual behavior then shared morals. Which of the three positions do you think most

accurately depicts how our social order is maintained?

3. How useful do you find Durkheim’s notion of a “social fact”? Does he do an

adequate job of defending this concept, or does it still overlap with other

disciplines? Or, is it even possible to single out “social facts” from say, economic

or psychological ones? Why or why not?

Note: It is not necessary to use my suggestions.

If none of the ideas above strike your fancy and you are having difficulty

determining what to write about, consider the following:

1. Was there something important in the reading/theoretical position that you

strongly disagree with?  If so, that disagreement may be a suitable topic for the

essay.

2. Do you think the theory(s) proposed have continued or contemporary relevance?  If

so, how might that be demonstrated?  If not, what evidence do you have to support

your argument?  Either position might be a suitable topic for the essay.

3. Did you find one reading more compelling than the others?  Why is that?  Perhaps

you should direct your focus of the essay to that specific reading.

4. Have you identified any inconsistencies in the readings which may influence the

value of the ideas within?  If so, what are they and what implications do these

inconsistencies have?  This may also serve as the basis for the essay.

5.  Do you have an alternative explanation for any of the theories posed?  If so,

what is it?  How would you defend your own theory?

6. Do you think that adopting the theoretical perspective(s) from this section would

help to give us a better understanding of a different field?  For instance, does

Durkheim's theory of the division of labor give us a new way to look at or think

about mental health?

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