A Philosophical Reexamination of Durkheim’s Socio-political Deviation

Abstract

Durkheim’s theory of deviation has powerfully influenced the scholars of sociology. His idea is still one of the fundamental theories in sociology. Durkheim’s whole investigation is threefold: first, to establish a framework of theory; second, to solidify it once established; and third, to promote its greater perfection. In general, Durkheim’s establishment of this framework was fruitful. This paper attempts: 1) to re-formalize the rules of socio-political deviation; 2) to re-correlate socio-political deviation and other socio-political phenomena; 3) to re-justify the necessity and causality of socio-political deviation. We can concede that Durkheim was an original deviser of a blueprint for a new theoretical mansion, but at the same time, one should realize that he was also a failure as a builder of this construction.