According to durkheim what are the characteristics of social facts. Rules of Sociological Methods According to Durkheim 2022-10-12

A contract is a legally binding agreement between two or more parties that sets out their rights and obligations towards each other. When one party fails to fulfill their obligations under the contract, it can give rise to a legal dispute. In such cases, the parties may seek resolution through the courts, which will apply contract law principles to determine the outcome of the case.

One example of a contract law case study is the case of Carlill v. Carbolic Smoke Ball Co. In this case, the Carbolic Smoke Ball Co. advertised a product called the "Carbolic Smoke Ball" that they claimed could cure influenza and other diseases. The company claimed that they would pay a reward of £100 to anyone who contracted any of the advertised diseases after using the smoke ball according to the instructions.

Mrs. Carlill purchased a smoke ball and used it as instructed, but subsequently contracted influenza. She then claimed the £100 reward, but the Carbolic Smoke Ball Co. refused to pay. Mrs. Carlill brought a legal action against the company, and the case eventually made its way to the Court of Appeals.

The Court held that the advertisement for the smoke ball constituted an offer that could be accepted by anyone who fulfilled the conditions specified in the advertisement, namely using the smoke ball according to the instructions. Mrs. Carlill had accepted the offer by purchasing and using the smoke ball, and the Carbolic Smoke Ball Co. was therefore bound by the contract. The Court ordered the company to pay Mrs. Carlill the £100 reward.

This case illustrates several important principles of contract law, including the concept of an offer and acceptance, the requirement of consideration (i.e., something of value being exchanged between the parties), and the binding nature of a contract once it has been formed. It also shows the importance of clearly stating the terms and conditions of a contract, as the Carbolic Smoke Ball Co. learned the hard way when they were unable to avoid their obligations under the contract despite their initial refusal to pay the reward.

Emile Durkheim was a French sociologist who is considered to be one of the founders of modern sociology. In his work, Durkheim focused on the concept of social facts, which he defined as "ways of acting, thinking, and feeling external to the individual and endowed with a power of coercion, by reason of which they control him."

Durkheim believed that social facts were an important aspect of society and played a significant role in shaping individuals' behavior. He argued that social facts were external to the individual and had a power of coercion, meaning that they could influence and control an individual's behavior.

According to Durkheim, there are several characteristics of social facts that make them distinct from other types of facts or phenomena. These characteristics include:

1. Externality: As mentioned above, Durkheim believed that social facts were external to the individual. This means that they are not a product of an individual's thoughts or actions, but rather are a result of the social environment in which the individual is located.

2. Objective reality: Durkheim argued that social facts were objective realities, meaning that they existed independently of an individual's perception or interpretation of them. They were not subjective or open to interpretation, but rather were objective and objective truths.

3. Coercive power: Social facts have a coercive power, meaning that they can influence and control an individual's behavior. This is because social facts are often institutionalized and are backed by social norms and values, which can create pressure for individuals to conform to them.

4. Functionality: Durkheim believed that social facts served a functional purpose in society. He argued that social facts helped to maintain social cohesion and order, and played a role in the regulation of social life.

In summary, according to Durkheim, social facts are external to the individual, have an objective reality, possess a coercive power, and serve a functional purpose in society. These characteristics make social facts an important aspect of society and help to shape the behavior and beliefs of individuals.