Social Facts and the Birth of Sociological Method — Quiz

Which two criteria must a phenomenon satisfy to qualify as a social fact in Durkheim's technical definition?

What does Durkheim mean by the methodological rule 'il faut traiter les faits sociaux comme des choses'?

Which of the following is Durkheim's primary reason for arguing that sociology requires its own autonomous object of study?

According to Durkheim, why is crime at some baseline rate 'normal' rather than pathological?

What is the key logical distinction Durkheim draws between the efficient cause and the function of a social fact?

Which of the following best describes the 'naturalistic fallacy' objection to Durkheim's normal/pathological distinction?

How did Robert Merton's refinement of functional analysis improve on Durkheim's original formulation?

Which of the following best characterises the intellectual-political context in which Durkheim developed his sociological project?

Explain, in your own words, why Durkheim treats suicide rates as social facts rather than as aggregates of individual decisions.

What is the difference between a social fact and a widely shared opinion, according to Durkheim?

What does Durkheim mean by 'emergent properties', and how does this concept support his argument for the independence of sociological explanation?

Critically evaluate Durkheim's claim that social facts must be treated 'as things'. In your answer, explain what the rule requires, what it was designed to correct, and what limitations or objections have been raised against it.