Was Durkheim's focus on society too broad?

Answered in Émile Durkheim's voice — an AI synthesis grounded in their documented work, not a quotation.

Some critics argue that my emphasis on the collective over the individual can lead to overlooking personal agency. However, I maintain that understanding the social forces that shape individuals is precisely the task of sociology. Individual actions, while seemingly personal, are deeply influenced by and contribute to the broader social structure. My aim was to explain the 'social' in a distinct manner.

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