Heterogeneity of the Individual and the Social and Transformation of Discipline

Durkheim’s sociology has been repeatedly criticized for placing society above individuals. Durkheim himself sensitively responded to this criticism, frequently mentioning the interpenetration of society and the individual. He believed that society transcends and dwells in individuals at the same time, and that society can exist only in and through individuals. However, Durkheim emphasized the heterogeneity of the individual and the social, or the “impersonality”of society. This contrasts with the idea, developed in the leading sociological theories of later times, that the practices of subject actors generate social reality. This idea may be important for locating Durkheim’s sociology within the disciplines. We argue that Durkheim tried to differentiate sociology from psychology by emphasizing the heterogeneity of the individual and the social, as well as by trying to develop new sociological research fields in other disciplines of the social sciences.本論文は、以下のJSPS 科研費の助成を受けたものです。 「社会学のディシプリン再生はいかにして可能か――デュルケーム社会学を事例として」（基盤研究（B）、課題番号：15H03409、研究代表者：中島道男［奈良女子大学］） 「現代日本の自殺傾向による社会学的自殺理論の再構成」（基盤研究（C）、課題番号：16K04033、研究代表者：江頭大蔵［広島大学］