Epistemology and Practice Durkheim's The Elementary Forms of Religious Life [Hardcover]

Argues Durkheim was attempting to establish a unique epistemological basis for the study of sociology.In this original and controversial book Professor Rawls argues that Durkheim's The Elementary Forms of Religion is the crowning achievement of his sociological endeavour and has been consistently misunderstood. Rather than a work on primitive religion or the sociology of knowledge, Rawls asserts that it is an attempt by Durkheim to establish a unique epistemological basis for the study of sociology and moral relations. Based on detailed textual analysis of the primary text, this book will be an important and original contribution to contemporary debates on social theory and philosophy.In this original and controversial book Professor Rawls argues that Durkheim's The Elementary Forms of Religion is the crowning achievement of his sociological endeavour and has been consistently misunderstood. Rather than a work on primitive religion or the sociology of knowledge, Rawls asserts that it is an attempt by Durkheim to establish a unique epistemological basis for the study of sociology and moral relations. Based on detailed textual analysis of the primary text, this book will be an important and original contribution to contemporary debates on social theory and philosophy.Anne Warfield Rawls argues that, although Durkheim's The Elementary Forms of Religion is the crowning achievement of his sociological accomplishments, it has been consistently misunderstood. Rather than a work on primitive religion or the sociology of knowledge, Rawls asserts that Durkheim's analysis represents an attempt to establish a unique epistemological basis for the study of sociology and moral relations. Based on detailed analysis of the primary text, this book will be an important and original contribution to contemporary debates on social theory and philosophy.Introduction; 1. Durkheim's outline of the argument in the introductory chapter; 2. Durkheim's dualism: an anti-Kantian, anti-rationalistlcJ