The fundamental proposition of the apriorist theory is that knowledge is made up of two sorts of elements, which cannot be reduced into one another, and which are like two distinct layers superimposed one upon the other.

The quote “The fundamental proposition of the apriorist theory is that knowledge is made up of two sorts of elements, which cannot be reduced into one another, and which are like two distinct layers superimposed one upon the other.” by Émile Durkheim explains his interpretation of the apriorist theory of knowledge. Durkheim points out that knowledge is composed of two separate but interdependent elements: one derived from experience and the other from a priori categories (concepts or structures that exist before experience). These elements cannot be collapsed into a single layer; rather, they coexist like “two distinct layers,” shaping how humans perceive and understand the world.

The origin of this statement comes from Durkheim’s engagement with philosophy and sociology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in his work The Elementary Forms of Religious Life (1912). Here, he was concerned with the relationship between individual perception, collective beliefs, and the foundations of knowledge. Durkheim drew on philosophical traditions, especially Kantian ideas about a priori knowledge, while integrating them into his broader sociological project of explaining how societies construct and transmit knowledge.

The meaning of the quote is that human knowledge is not purely empirical, nor is it entirely abstract. The empirical layer consists of experiences, observations, and sensory input, while the a priori layer consists of pre-existing frameworks, categories, and structures that allow us to make sense of those experiences. For Durkheim, this duality was essential to understanding not just knowledge, but also how societies create shared systems of meaning, such as religion and morality.

Ultimately, Durkheim’s reflection underscores his belief that knowledge is both individual and collective, both experiential and structured. By describing it as layered, he emphasizes that reality cannot be understood without acknowledging the interplay of lived experience and conceptual frameworks. This perspective laid the groundwork for modern sociology of knowledge, showing how thought is shaped not only by personal perception but also by collective, pre-existing categories.