Final answer:
Herbert Spencer and Émile Durkheim shared a functionalist viewpoint of society, seeing it as a system where all parts are interdependent. Durkheim built upon Spencer's evolutionary perspectives, focusing on social facts and collective conscience to explain social solidarity and order.
Step-by-step explanation:
Herbert Spencer and Émile Durkheim were both pivotal figures in the development of sociological theory and while their approaches differed, they shared similarities in their understanding of society. Both viewed society in terms of a functionalist framework, where the various parts of society were seen as interdependent and working together to maintain the social order. Spencer introduced the concept of 'survival of the fittest', drawing parallels to Darwinian evolutionary theory to explain the changes in society, while Durkheim extended and applied these ideas to understand how societies maintain social solidarity and dynamic equilibrium.
Spencer's influence on Émile Durkheim is evident in Durkheim's work which treats society as a complex system where its components, such as laws, beliefs, and rituals, contribute to the overall stability and functionality. While Spencer was more focused on the evolutionary aspect and saw societal change as an adaptation and struggle, Durkheim placed emphasis on the importance of social facts and collective conscience that create a moral framework that guides individual behavior and thus, societal coherence.
In essence, both theorists recognized the interconnectedness of society's components and the importance of each part in maintaining the social structure. However, Durkheim's approach was more empirical and sociological, seeking to understand the nature of social bonds, particularly in the transition from mechanical to organic solidarity in the face of industrialization and its subsequent social changes.