133k views
2 votes
According to Durkheim, which of the following is not a social fact?

a) Customs
b) Laws
c) Language
d) Religious beliefs

User Shiran
by
8.1k points

1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

All options presented: customs, laws, language, and religious beliefs, are considered social facts by Durkheim, and hence there is no correct answer amongst the choices given as they all fit the definition of a social fact.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Emile Durkheim, social facts include laws, morals, values, religious beliefs, customs, fashions, rituals, and all of the cultural rules that govern social life. Among the options provided, customs, laws, and religious beliefs are all considered social facts as they are external to the individual and exert a coercive power over individuals within a society. Language, as a system that enables communication and embodies the cultural rules and meanings necessary for a society to function, is also a social fact. Therefore, all the options presented (a) Customs, (b) Laws, (c) Language, and (d) Religious beliefs do align with Durkheim's concept of a social fact, and none are to be excluded.

User Jason Reid
by
7.5k points