Between Science and Autobiography. On the Suicide of Emile Durkheim Cover Image

MIĘDZY NAUKĄ I AUTOBIOGRAFIĄ. SAMOBÓJSTWO ÉMILE’A DURKHEIMA
Between Science and Autobiography. On the Suicide of Emile Durkheim

Author(s): Łukasz M. Dominiak
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Keywords: Durkheim; Suicide; sociology of scientific creativity; neurasthenia

Summary/Abstract: The subject matter o this article is one of the most important sociological works – Emile Durkheim’s Suicide. In foreword, the thesis about significant influence of Durkheim’s personal experience on the character of this book is proposed. In the first part, the biographical trait of neurasthenia included in Suicide is explored. Subsequently, a scientific context in which the considered work once appeared is outlined, leading to critical assessment of certain among its theoretical achievements. Further, the underestimated parts of Suicide are indicated, in which the postulated Durkheimian theory of culture is embedded. In the conclusion the discussion on the meanings of terms „classic” and „classical” is touched upon and a need to redefine them is signalized.

  • Issue Year: 190/2008
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 75-104
  • Page Count: 29
  • Language: Polish