Durkheim, Emile: - David mile Durkheim was a French sociologist born in pinal, France, on April 15, 1858. Widely regarded as one of the principal architects of modern social science, Durkheim is credited with establishing sociology as a formal academic discipline. His work, grounded in empirical research and focused on the study of social phenomena, made a significant impact on the development of social theory. Durkheim s intellectual influences include Auguste Comte and Immanuel Kant, and he, in turn, greatly influenced later sociologists such as Robert K. Merton, Talcott Parsons, and Erving Goffman. Durkheim's most notable works include his studies on the division of labor, the role of religion in society, and the causes of suicide. He believed that society exerts a powerful influence on the individual, and his theories on social cohesion and anomie continue to shape sociological thought. Durkheim was educated at the prestigious cole normale sup rieure and spent much of his academic career in France, where he also raised his children, Marie and Andr Durkheim. He passed away on November 15, 1917, in Paris at the age of 59.