First published in 1895: Emile Durkheim's masterful work on the nature and scope of sociology--now with a new introduction and improved translation by leading scholar Steven Lukes. "The Rules of the Sociological Method" is among the most important contributions to the field of sociology, still debated among scholars today. Through letters, arguments, and commentaries on significant debates, Durkheim confronted critics, clarified his own position, and defended the objective scientific method he applied to his study of humans. This updated edition offers an introduction and extra notes as well as a new translation to improve the clarity and accessibility of this essential work. In the introduction, Steven Lukes, author of the definitive biography" Emile Durkheim: His Life and Work," spells out Durkheim's intentions, shows the limits of Durkheim's view of sociology, and presents its political background and significance. Making use of the various texts in this volume and Durkheim's later work, Lukes discusses how Durkheim's methodology was modified or disregarded in practice--and how it is still relevant today. With substantial notes on context, this user-friendly edition will greatly ease the task of students and scholars working with Durkheim's method--a view that has been a focal point of sociology since its original publication. "The Rules of the Sociological Method" will engage a new generation of readers with Durkheim's rich contribution to the field.

E.迪爾凱姆(mile Durkheim，1858-1917)，法國著名社會學傢，社會學的重要奠基者之一。1858年4月15日生於法國孚日省埃皮納爾一個小城鎮的猶太教士傢庭，早年曾繼父誌作一名拉比。1879-1882年就學於巴黎高等師範學校，1882-1887年在桑斯、聖康坦、特魯瓦等地的許多中學任教，1885-1886年赴德遊學，深受實驗心理學的創始人馮特的贊賞。1887年起，在波爾多大學教授社會哲學，1891年被任命為法國第一位社會學教授。1902年後執教於巴黎大學。1898年，他創建瞭法國的《社會學年鑒》，圍繞這個刊物，一批年輕學者組成瞭一個社會學傢的團體：社會學年鑒派。1917年11月15日於巴黎逝世。