Final answer:
Émile Durkheim viewed society as a complex organism where collective conscience and social facts govern life and ensure social order. He highlighted the functions of these elements and their roles in facilitating both social stability and reaction to deviance. Religion played a central role in Durkheim's theory, offering cohesion and moral direction.
Step-by-step explanation:
To Émile Durkheim, society was akin to a living organism with various parts interconnected and necessary for the whole to function. He emphasized that society was greater than just the sum of its parts, with collective behavior being distinct from that of the individual's actions. Durkheim introduced the concept of collective conscience, referring to the shared beliefs, morals, and attitudes that guide behavior and societal coherence. He argued that social facts, such as laws, morals, values, and religious beliefs, exist independently of individuals and have a functioning role in societal life. Durkheim's work showed that even deviance was necessary for affirming cultural norms and values, hence playing a role in societal continuity and stability.
In his view, these social facts serve multiple functions, like preserving public health and protecting society from violence. Durkheim was particularly interested in the transitional nature of society from a simple, mechanical solidarity to a more complex, organic solidarity. This evolution reflects the changing way in which societies maintain order and coherence among their members. Above all, Durkheim believed that religion and morality are central to societal structure, providing social cohesion, controlling behavior, and offering meaning and purpose to life's challenges.