SOCI 3040 Lecture 4: Lecture 4- Emile Durkheim IIII
Document Summary
Society: it"s in the title of the book. Durkheim when he uses that term initially he is referring to what would think of as societies. Canada: occasionally he uses the word society as synonymous with this idea of the collective consciousness. Collective consciousness: also, translated as the common consciousness also translated as the common conscious. The term in french can be translated as conscious or consciousness. The term describes both the mental/cognitive capacity and the moral capacity. It is the set of ideas, values (the moral part), norms and beliefs (being the cognitive part) that are held in common within a society. Our own beliefs and values must have come from somewhere. You acquire through the process of socialization with society our morals and values. It is the founding sociological act: to think of ourselves as being primarily the product of society. The way we think and the way we act.