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What term did Durkheim use instead of collective conscience?

A. Groupthink.
B. Collective representations.
C. Social consciousness.
D. Communal morality.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The term Émile Durkheim used instead of 'collective conscience' is 'Collective representations'. These represent the shared beliefs and values of a society, which differ from the concept of collective conscience but are related to Durkheim's focus on social facts and the structure of society.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term Émile Durkheim used instead of 'collective conscience' is B. Collective representations. Durkheim's functionalist view saw society as a complex system with interrelated parts that work together, with collective conscience being an integral component. This collective conscience refers to the shared beliefs, values, and attitudes that operate as a unifying force within society. However, Durkheim also talked about 'collective representations', which are symbols, language, and shared understandings that express something essential about the collective conscience but are not synonymous with it.

Durkheim's idea of social facts, such as laws, morals, beliefs, and customs, are aspects of collective representations that exist outside of the individual and exert control over them. This conception of society was central to his sociological research and theories.

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