PROPOSITIONS OF EMILE DURKHEIM AND MAX WEBER: IMPLICATIONS FOR MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION

The central problem of this study was to examine culture from the vantage points of Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. The purpose of this investigation was to derive implications for multicultural education.;Durkheim contended that the rules of human action are obligatory and are expressed in moral or juridical regulation produced by collective elaboration. He further argued that social solidarity, mechanical or organic, can be subjected to empirical investigation. Weber argued that the basis for social organization is the relationship between religious and economic forces and historical conditioning. He maintained that this inquiry required rational examination.;Although neither Durkheim nor Weber successfully clarified or constrained culture, the work of both men reveals that it is feasible to develop propositions to constrain culture. The work of both men provides feasible alternative methodologies for the development of such constraints. It must, however, be noted that in both instances the failure to develop constraints lay in the failure to identify those features critical to the derivation of constraints for culture.;Sociology continues to be a primary source from which to seek constraints for culture and therefore multicultural education. It may be that modification of the work done by Durkheim and/or Weber may ultimately lead to constraints for culture. It may be that other sociologists in the tradition of Durkheim and Weber may ultimately provide constraints for culture. The legitimacy of multicultural education in schooling is open to challenge unless such constraints are pursued and developed.;If multicultural education in schooling is to attain credibility, then there must be clarification as to what constitutes multicultural education. Such clarification requires at least examination and constraint of culture. Any investigation of culture requires the examination of competing propositions presented by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber.