The sacred and the law: the Durkheimian legacy

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Emile Durkheim’s work significantly influences the social sciences, particularly regarding normativity, which continues to inspire theoretical reflection and empirical analysis. His main concerns have fundamentally shaped social thought, addressing changing social bonds, integration, belief and unbelief in societal values, and the acceptance or rejection of law, obligation, and rights. Durkheim explored the inner tensions of normative orders and the challenge of aligning diverse normativities with the complex structures of society, promoting the idea of normative and social pluralism. The concept of the Sacred plays a crucial dual role: it represents an autonomous sphere of the Holy, threatened by modernization, while also being a fundamental aspect of sociality, culture, and normativity, underpinning modern, secularized collective beliefs. This volume features contributions from various disciplines, examining a wide array of topics related to normativity. It aims to revisit these critical issues and highlight the enduring influence of Durkheim’s ideas on the Sacred and the law, showcasing their relevance in contemporary discussions.