2015 Volume 26 Pages 47-67
This paper tries to examine the significance of Durkheim’s work as a sociological classic by comparing Durkhemian problematique of State-Intermediate group- Individual and studies of Japanese society by some scholars, such as Yoichi Higuchi, Tatsuo Inoue, Keiichi Sakuta, and Masao Maruyama. When we interpret Durkheimian problematique of State-Intermediate group- Individual, it is important to distinguish between the problem of persistence of intermediate groups and the problem of absence of intermediate groups, but treat them in pairs, not separately. According to Durkheim, firstly, the state as a general power must crush particular powers of intermediate groups and release individuals from the pressure of intermediate groups, and after that, intermediate groups are necessary to guard individuals from the powerful state which will oppress them if there are no intermediate groups. Durkheim’s problematique reformulated in such a form is a useful tool for placing some studies of Japanese society appropriately. In my opinion, contemporary significance of sociological classics exists in giving us the clue of how we grasp social phenomena. Sociological classics are worth classics due to the skillfulness of their problematique.
