BETWEEN SCIENCE AND AUTOBIOGRAPHY. ON THE 'SUICIDE' OF EMILE DURKHEIM

The subject matter o this article is one of the most important sociological works - Emile Durkheim's 'Suicide'. In foreword, the thesis about significant influence of Durkheim's personal experience on the character of this book is proposed. In the first part, the biographical trait of neurasthenia included in 'Suicide' is explored. Subsequently, a scientific context in which the considered work once appeared is outlined, leading to critical assessment of certain among its theoretical achievements. Further, the underestimated parts of 'Suicide' are indicated, in which the postulated Durkheimian theory of culture is embedded. In the conclusion the discussion on the meanings of terms 'classic' and 'classical' is touched upon and a need to redefine them is signalized.