The Debate Between Tarde And Durkheim

In early French sociological circles,a fierce debate broke out between G.Tarde and E.Durkheim,two leading sociologists.The content of this debate includes the disputes within the discipline of sociology,including the question of which leads in sociology between the individual and the society,and the specific discipline orientation of sociology.They debate on social reality,in which the two sides in the social reality of the occurrence of the problem,the field where the society is,and the basic social group issues.However,the specific disputes in these sociological theories are the embodiment of the differences between individualism and holism in the methodology of social science.Those specific differences reveal the strengths and weaknesses of each of two way.Individualism is more dynamic and flexible,can be more subtle,derived from the individual in a better interpretation of social phenomenon,and the possibility of the inner innovation in theory,but limitations is "individual" related definition too fuzzy and discrete,explanatory power and stability is very hard to measure recognized standard.The advantage of holism is that it is more stable and has strong explanatory power,which can stipulate the field of subject and grasp the research direction of subject.Limitation is that it is too arbitrary in the realistic presupposition of the whole,an abstract thing,and it is difficult for the theory to be innovated from within.Beyond conflict,the two also reached a scientific consensus on methodology,which is also widely recognized today.The contemporary social science research should abandon the metaphysical nature of methodological conflict,return to science and practice,walk out of the conflict and consensus between them,and return to the social practice.