Final answer:
Durkheim believed in the objective study of social facts, which are elements like laws and values that exist outside the individual and influence society. He did not specifically discuss value freedom in sociology, a concept later championed by Max Weber, who stressed the importance of sociologists maintaining value neutrality in their research.
Step-by-step explanation:
Émile Durkheim, a foundational figure in sociology, posited that sociologists could and should study objective social facts that influence and govern social life, such as laws, morals, values, religious beliefs, and customs (Durkheim, 1895). Durkheim emphasized the importance of looking beyond individuals to these social facts because they exist outside the individual and exert a significant influence on society. For example, the function of a society's laws might be multifaceted, serving to protect society from violence, punishing criminal behavior, and preserving public health.
Durkheim also explored the foundations of social solidarity and the consequences of its decline, suggesting that the lack of social cohesion could lead to a state of anomie, or chaos, which could result in higher rates of sui_cide and the illness of society. He considered even deviant behavior necessary as it serves to affirm and reinforce the values and norms within a society (Durkheim, 1893).
Despite Durkheim's focus on the objectivity of social facts, he did not explicitly address the concept of value freedom in sociological research. This concept was emphasized by Max Weber, another prominent sociologist, who advocated for value neutrality in sociological studies. According to Weber, sociologists must remain impartial and avoid allowing personal values to shape the interpretation of data (Weber, 1949).