By definition, sacred beings are separated beings. That which characterizes them is that there is a break of continuity between them and the profane beings. Emile Durkheim beingbreakcharacterize Change image and share on social
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
The roles of art, morality, religion, political faith, science itself are not to repair organic exhaustion nor to provide sound functioning of the organs. All this supraphysical life is built and expanded not because of the demands of the cosmic environment but because of the demands of the social environment. Emile Durkheim artbuildcosmic share on social
The Christian conceives of his abode on Earth in no more delightful colors than the Jainist sectarian. He sees in it only a time of sad trial; he also thinks that his true country is not of this world. Emile Durkheim abidechristiancolor share on social
Religious representations are collective representations which express collective realities. Emile Durkheim collectiveexpressreality Change image and share on social
The individual can maintain himself in a society definitely organized only through possessing an equally definite mental and moral constitution. This is what the neuropath lacks. His state of disturbance causes him to be constantly taken by surprise by circumstances. Emile Durkheim circumstanceconstantlyconstitution share on social
The liberal professions, and in a wider sense the well-to-do classes, are certainly those with the liveliest taste for knowledge and the most active intellectual life. Emile Durkheim activeclassintellectual 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
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
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