A Critique of the Cognitive and Existential Contexts of Durkheim's Theory of Functionalism

One of the classic theories in the field of sociology is functionalism. The methodological framework of this theory was established by Emil Durkheim and it developed in France and spread to Europe and America. This paper does not seek to analyze the nature of Durkheim's functionalism; rather, it is a kind of analysis meta-theoretical subjects which investigate the epistemological and ontological principles of scientific by adopting following fundamental methodology. The ontological, anthropological and epistemological principles of Durkheim's theory are made clear by analyzing it by fundamental methodology and this prepares the grounds for criticizing it. It can be said that in the view of ontology, epistemology and anthropology, Durkheim's theory of functionalism has fallen into reductionism which made this theory open to serious criticisms.