Emile Durkheim and Karl Marx Over time, sociologists have studied our social behaviors and developed theories to explain these behaviors. Two of the best-known sociologists are Émile Durkheim and Karl Marx. One of the most important things that they both studied and that we looked at in class is capitalism and the division of labor, and how that affects the individual and the collective. Even though their ideas were different, they each presented evidence to prove their theories on this topic. Emile Durkheim, French sociologist, philosopher and social psychologist, is considered one of the “fathers” of social sciences and sociology. He attended the University of Paris and the University of Bordeaux where he studied social science. As a student, I work at Kroger Deli, which is a very task-oriented job. Some days can get very busy, not only waiting for customers, but also unloading orders from the places we purchase our products, producing several different types of food, manning a cash register, and maintaining a clean workplace . In this type of work environment, it is essential to have multiple workers on site to ensure tasks are completed. Basically, in our department we have a microcosmic division of labor in which we all have to put in a certain amount of time and effort to be able to earn a salary each week. Of course, there are problems when people work together as a collective to get things done, but most of the time it creates a sense of social belonging. It may depend on who is working that day and what type of worker it is, but I believe there are good works and bad works in every job. He worked closely with a famous German thinker, Friedrich Engels and wrote several different books and ideas about society and their findings on social topics. Marx's ideas on capitalism and the division of labor were opposed to those of Durkheim. As a conflict theorist, he argued that the division of labor caused several different problems that affected both the individual and the collective, such as recurring economic crises and alienation. He said this would create inequalities between social groups because of how the system works. Marx focused on change and how changing certain aspects of society could improve how it functions so that it is fair for all. According to Marx, social life has its origin in material life and progress lies in the transformations of material life and this change is motivated by contradictions. This includes life and prosperity both material and intellectual.