Functional Perspective of Émile Durkheim

Émile Durkheim, a founding figure of sociology, is known as the father of functionalism. His functional perspective emphasizes that:

Society is like a living organism where each part performs functions necessary for the stability and survival of the whole.

Durkheim believed that social institutions — such as religion, education, family, law, and economy — exist because they fulfill essential social needs. This approach laid the foundation for Structural Functionalism, later developed by Talcott Parsons and Robert K. Merton.

What is the Functional Perspective?

According to Durkheim:

✔ Every social structure contributes to the functioning of society
✔ Social facts must be studied for their functions
✔ Harmony, stability, and order are central to society
✔ Deviance and crime also have functions

Durkheim saw society not as a collection of individuals but as a moral and social system.

Durkheim’s Key Concepts in Functionalism

1️⃣ Social Facts

Social facts such as norms, laws, religion, and morality regulate behavior and maintain order.
They are external and coercive but necessary for social integration.

2️⃣ Collective Consciousness

Shared beliefs and values act as a binding glue for society.
Functional role: Promotes unity and ensures moral regulation.

3️⃣ Social Solidarity

Durkheim explained that solidarity holds society together.
Two types:

Type	Found In	Basis	Law Type
Mechanical	Traditional societies	Similarity	Repressive
Organic	Modern societies	Interdependence	Restitutive

Solidarity ensures cohesion and cooperation in society.

4️⃣ Moral Regulation

To prevent chaos, society must control human desires through norms and institutions.
Example: Laws, religious teachings, and school discipline.

Durkheim’s Functional Analysis of Key Institutions

A) Religion

Creates social cohesion
Fosters collective identity
Strengthens shared values through rituals

Worship of God is actually worship of society itself.

B) Division of Labour

Increases interdependence
Creates organic solidarity
Promotes efficiency and specialization
But requires moral regulation to avoid anomie

C) Crime and Deviance

Durkheim gave a revolutionary view:

Crime is normal and necessary in society.

Functions of crime:

Clarifies moral boundaries
Encourages social change
Strengthens collective values through punishment

(Relevant for ethics & sociology papers)

D) Education

Transmits values and discipline
Socializes children into responsible citizens
Prepares individuals for specialized roles

Education maintains social continuity and integration.

Functional Perspective and Social Order

Durkheim believed society works smoothly when:

Social values are widely shared
Institutions fulfill their functions
Conflict and disorder are minimized

Thus, he saw consensus as more important than conflict.

Criticism of Durkheim’s Functional Perspective

Scholar	Criticism
Karl Marx	Overemphasis on harmony; ignores class conflict
Max Weber	Neglects individual action and meanings
Postmodernists	Society is too diverse for a single moral order
Merton	Not all functions are positive — dysfunctions also exist

🔹 Critics argue Durkheim viewed society as too stable and ignored inequality.
🔹 Yet, his functional lens remains a foundation of sociological theory.

Conclusion

Durkheim’s functional perspective transformed sociology into a science of social order. By showing how institutions and collective values keep society stable, he laid the groundwork for modern functionalism. While criticized for ignoring power and inequality, Durkheim’s insights continue to help us understand why social systems exist and how they maintain cohesion in a rapidly changing world.