The article demonstrates how Durkheim saw education as carrying out a functionally equivalent role in the modern world, as the one religion carried out in the premodern. Based on this observation, the article reflects on the principle behind the division of labor in the humanities, namely the study of separate cultural products, such as education and religion, while arguing that Durkheim attempted to develop a fundamental sociology, which cuts across the various domains.Artiklen demonstrerer, at Durkheim tilskrev uddannelse samme funktion i den moderne verden, som religion havde spillet i den præmoderne. På baggrund af denne observation reflekterer artiklen over princippet bag arbejdsdelingen inden for humaniora, dvs. studiet af separate kulturelle produkter, såsom uddannelse og religion, mens den argumenterer for, at Durkheim forsøgte at udvikle en fundamentalsociologi, som går på tværs af de forskellige domæner
