Durkheim's Sociological Analysis Of Moral Phenomena

Durkheim(1858-1917),who spent most of his life in the crumbling third republic of France,was deeply concerned about the social problems that had arisen since the secularization of France and Europe,and he was deeply aware that the essence of these social problems was that people's moral life had fallen into a state of anomie.It is clear that Durkheim's sociological enterprise from Comte is a moral one-the search for a new,solid moral foundation for modern French and European society.In this sense,the content of this paper is to show what is the moral foundation Durkheim seeks.There is no doubt that our society is still in the process of reform and transformation and is also suffering from certain moral problems.Therefore,the presentation of Durkheim's moral pursuit can inspire our moral pursuit.Durkheim's sociological enterprise was,of course,a scientific one,and an ambitious one at that.To put the moral phenomenon at the centre of sociological research revealed his ambition.Therefore,from this perspective,when presenting Durkheim's sociological analysis of moral phenomena,this paper will inevitably contain a response and reflection to Durkheim's sociological ambition.The presentation and reflection of this paper will not only inspire the development of contemporary sociology,but also help the moral construction of our society.The presentation of Durkheim's moral pursuit and the reflection on Durkheim's sociological ambition in this paper have always been based on Durkheim's writings,especially highlighting the relationship between Durkheim's various texts and the rich set of concepts emerging from Durkheim's texts.The thesis is divided into six chapters.The first chapter is the introduction,which introduces the background and significance of the topic,reviews the relevant research literature at home and abroad,determines the appropriate objectives and appropriate methods of this research,and finally explains the structure of this paper.The second chapter is the logical starting point of the whole paper,which mainly presents Durkheim's sociological understanding of moral phenomena from the perspective of methodology.Durkheim inherited and developed the positive philosophy established by Comte,and then determined the object and method of sociological research.Durkheim's sociological analysis of moral phenomena always follows an empirical path,that is to say,all his analyses of moral phenomena are based on the premise and starting point of moral phenomena as social facts.The third and fourth chapters are the core of the whole thesis.The third chapter mainly presents Durkheim's sociological analysis of moral phenomena from the higher level of social facts.Religion,as the oldest collective representation,is the origin of morality,and the social ontology behind the religious representation is the sacred foundation of moral life.This sacred foundation is not only the social authority beyond individuals,but also the social ideal that inspires individuals,and finally incarnates the spirit of discipline and attachment in individuals.As the most important collective representation of modern society,science is the rational basis of modern secular moral autonomy.The fourth chapter mainly presents Durkheim's sociological analysis of moral phenomena from the lower level of social facts.Durkheim had a profound understanding of the secularization of European social transformation,especially the moral anomie in the process of social transformation.Durkheim proposed an overarching solution to moral anomie that involved all aspects of society.This paper focuses on Durkheim's discussion on the corporation institution and the state institution,because they are the social environment that breeds the professional ethics and the civic morality respectively,so the sound of modern moral life depends on the integration among various social institutions.The fifth chapter is the necessary supplement of the whole paper,especially the evidence of many theoretical viewpoints in the first two chapters.This chapter also presents Durkheim's sociological analysis of moral phenomena from the perspective of social institution,which is a very special educational system.Durkheim's analysis of the French education system and children's education shows that the elements of discipline,attachment and autonomy of moral life can only be internalized in people's body and mind through education,and professional ethics and civic morality can only be internalized in people's body and mind through various educational institutions.In the end,people can achieve the transformation from the state of nature to the state of society,it is possible to lead a good life.The sixth chapter is the conclusion,which mainly summarizes the contents of the first four chapters,and also reflects on the shortcomings of this study.Finally,it illustrates the enlightening significance of Durkheim's sociological analysis of moral phenomena,which can not only inspire the development of contemporary sociology,but also the moral construction of contemporary China.