Question

Explain Durkheim's concept of social fact and its relevance in Sociological methodology.

Answer 1

Answer:

Durkheim defined social facts as things external to, and coercive of, the actor. These are created from collective forces and do not emanate from the individual (Hadden, p. 104). While they may not seem to be observable, social facts are things, and "are to be studied empirically, not philosophically" (Ritzer, p. 78).