Professional Ethics and Civic Morals (Routledge Classics)

Product Details

• Author: Émile Durkheim

• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

• Edition: 1st Edition

• Binding: Paperback

• ISBN: 9781138601895

• Number of Pages: 266

• Release Date: 28-09-2018

• Languages: English

About the Book

Professional Ethics and Civic Morals by Émile Durkheim is one of Durkheim's most significant yet often overlooked works. As one of the founding figures of sociology, Durkheim explores the relationship between the individual and society, particularly in the context of industrialization and its impact on morality.

In this work, Durkheim tackles the crucial question of how the state can reconcile the morality of society with the forces of the market, especially when the market operates without regulation, which leads to the social instability he refers to as "anomie." He proposes that professional codes and civic values, forming a "civil religion," could provide a remedy to the effects of individualism, much like guilds did in medieval times.

Durkheim also emphasizes the critical role of the state in moral life, suggesting that morals are, at their core, social facts that need to be protected and enforced. He argues for a form of cosmopolitan patriotism and highlights the state’s duty to protect individual rights, thereby addressing debates on social inequality and the redistribution of wealth.

The Routledge Classics edition includes a new introduction by Bryan S. Turner, who contextualizes Durkheim's work in contemporary discussions and outlines its enduring relevance.