Social facts, according to the foundational sociologist Émile Durkheim, are the aspects of social life—such as norms, values, beliefs, institutions, and social structures—that exist external to individuals and yet shape our actions, thoughts, and feelings as individuals, exerting a coercive influence over us. Durkheim argued that these social facts have an objective reality and are not simply the product of individual psychology or biology, and therefore, they could and should be studied scientifically, using empirical observation and analysis to uncover the patterns and laws that govern social life. Examples of social facts include the institution of marriage, the education system, religious beliefs, and legal codes, which exist independently of any single individual but influence how people behave and organise their lives within a society. Durkheim emphasised the importance of studying social facts to understand the nature of society and the forces that maintain social order and cohesion.