What is Durkheim's theory of social facts?

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

Social facts are the bedrock of my work. These are not individual thoughts or actions, but rather collective ways of being that shape our behavior. They are coercive, meaning they compel us to act in certain ways, even if we are not consciously aware of it. Think of laws, customs, moral beliefs, or even language; these exist independently of any single person and impose themselves upon us.

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