Final answer:
Durkheim viewed society as a living organism, emphasizing the importance of every part in maintaining societal health and stability as per functionalist perspective in sociology.
Step-by-step explanation:
Durkheim argued that we need to view society as a living organism. Following the ideas of predecessors like Comte and Spencer, Émile Durkheim expanded on the belief that society is a complex system of interrelated and interdependent parts, with each part having a necessary role in maintaining the organism's life, similar to organs in a living body. Durkheim's theory highlights that every element of society, including those considered deviant, serve a purpose by affirming cultural values and norms, thus contributing to the collective consciousness. Durkheim's perspective is foundational to the functionalist view in sociology that stresses the interconnectivity of all societal elements and the importance of social facts in understanding the health and stability of a society.