Emile Durkheim is known for pioneering work in the field of sociology. He established the discipline as a formal study through his exploration of social structures, collective behavior, and the role of societal norms. Durkheim's seminal works, including Suicide and The Division of Labor in Society, addressed how social forces shape individual behavior and contributed to the development of theories related to anomie and social cohesion. His methodological approaches and emphasis on empirical research laid the foundation for future sociological inquiry and shaped the understanding of social phenomena, influencing both academic and practical applications of sociology.