Each victim of suicide gives his act a personal stamp which expresses his temperament, the special conditions in which he is involved, and which, consequently, cannot be explained by the social and general causes of the phenomenon. Emile Durkheim actconditionexplain share on social
A person is not merely a single subject distinguished from all the others. It is especially a being to which is attributed a relative autonomy in relation to the environment with which it is most immediately in contact. Emile Durkheim attributeautonomycontact share on social
Each new generation is reared by its predecessor; the latter must therefore improve in order to improve its successor. The movement is circular. Emile Durkheim circulargenerationimprove Change image and share on social
The fundamental proposition of the apriorist theory is that knowledge is made up of two sorts of elements, which cannot be reduced into one another, and which are like two distinct layers superimposed one upon the other. Emile Durkheim aprioristdistinctelement share on social
Religious phenomena are naturally arranged in two fundamental categories: beliefs and rites. The first are states of opinion, and consist in representations; the second are determined modes of action. Emile Durkheim actionarrangebelief Change image and share on social
Religious representations are collective representations which express collective realities. Emile Durkheim collectiveexpressreality Change image and share on social
There is a collective as well as an individual humor inclining peoples to sadness or cheerfulness, making them see things in bright or somber lights. In fact, only society can pass a collective opinion on the value of human life; for this the individual is incompetent. Emile Durkheim brightcheerfulnesscollective share on social
It is inadmissible that systems of ideas like religions, which have held so considerable a place in history, and to which, in all times, men have come to receive the energy which they must have to live, should be made up of a tissue of illusions. Emile Durkheim considerableenergyhistory share on social
Whoever makes an attempt on a man's life, on a man's liberty, on a man's honour inspires us with a feeling of horror in every way analogous to that which the believer experiences when he sees his idol profaned. Emile Durkheim analogousattemptbeliever share on social
It is too great comfort which turns a man against himself. Life is most readily renounced at the time and among the classes where it is least harsh. Emile Durkheim classcomfortgreat Change image and share on social
