Durkheim's Mechanical and Organic Solidarity: what holds society together?

Summary

Emile Durkheim, known as the father of Sociology, is highlighted in this script as a key figure in modern social theory alongside Marx and Weber. Durkheim's focus on social facts, such as norms and values, and his concept of solidarity as society's cohesion, are explored. The script contrasts mechanical solidarity in pre-modern societies, bound by shared experiences and values, with organic solidarity in modern societies, characterized by interdependence and specialization. Durkheim's views on individualism and the division of labor are critiqued, particularly in relation to Marx's conflict theory, and the video concludes by questioning Durkheim's oversight of conflict's role in shaping society.

Takeaways

• 📚 Emile Durkheim is recognized as the father of Sociology, focusing on social rather than individual explanations for societal phenomena.
• 🔍 Durkheim introduced the concept of 'social facts' which include norms, culture, values, law, morality, population size, political institutions, and technology, all of which influence each other and people.
• 🧩 He differentiated between mechanical solidarity found in pre-Modern societies, characterized by similarity and collective consciousness, and organic solidarity in modern societies, characterized by interdependence and specialization.
• 👨‍🌾 In mechanical solidarity, individuals are bound together by commonalities, with religion and shared experiences playing a significant role in maintaining social cohesion.
• 🏙️ Organic solidarity arises in modern societies where individuals are highly specialized and rely on each other, akin to organs in a human body, each performing a unique function.
• 🛍️ Individualism is a key value in modern societies, especially visible in consumer culture, but Durkheim noted that it doesn't promote social solidarity as it attaches individuals to themselves rather than to society.
• 🔧 The division of labor in modern societies creates interdependence, which is a foundation of social cohesion, but Durkheim also acknowledged potential issues such as enforced and anomic division of labor.
• 👮‍♂️ Durkheim observed differences in law between mechanical and organic societies, with the latter focusing on restitutive law to correct and reform rather than retributive law focused on punishment.
• 🌐 He attributed the transition from mechanical to organic solidarity to 'dynamic density,' a term for the increasing number of people and the degree of interactivity between them, evident in contemporary globalization.
• 🤔 Durkheim's perspective has been criticized for not adequately recognizing the role of conflict and class struggle in shaping society, which are central to theories like Marxism.
• 💡 Despite its limitations, Durkheim's concept of mechanical and organic solidarity offers an insightful framework for understanding the structure and evolution of societies.

Q & A

Who are the three big names in Modern Social theory?

The three big names in Modern Social theory are Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Max Weber.

What is Emile Durkheim known as and what was his focus?

Emile Durkheim is known as the father of Sociology, the formal study of society. His focus was on social rather than individual explanations for societal phenomena.

What did Durkheim term as 'social facts'?

Durkheim termed social facts as norms, culture, values, law, morality, population size, political institutions, and technology. These are all aspects that affect one another and people, but cannot be understood at the level of the individual.

How does Durkheim differentiate between mechanical and organic solidarity?

Durkheim differentiated between mechanical solidarity, which is the cohesion in pre-Modern societies based on similarity and collective consciousness, and organic solidarity, which is the cohesion in modern societies based on interdependence despite differences.

What is the role of religion in pre-Modern mechanical solidarity according to Durkheim?

Religion plays a significant role in pre-Modern mechanical solidarity as it contributes to the shared experiences and values that bind people together in societies with high similarity.

How does Durkheim describe the division of labor in modern societies?

In modern societies, Durkheim describes the division of labor as highly specialized roles where individuals rely on each other for survival and the functioning of society, akin to organs in a human body.

What does Durkheim suggest as the cause of the transition from mechanical to organic solidarity?

Durkheim suggests that the transition from mechanical to organic solidarity is caused by 'dynamic density,' which refers to the number of people in a society and the degree of interactivity between them.

How does Durkheim view the role of crime in society?

Durkheim viewed crime as a natural and healthy feature of society because it reaffirms society's laws and helps clarify societal norms through the occurrence of transgressions and their subsequent handling.

What are the two types of problematic division of labor that Durkheim identifies?

Durkheim identifies 'enforced division of labor' where economic power or status determines roles rather than qualifications, and 'anomic division of labor' where excessive individualism leads to a lack of moral clarity and isolation in specialized activities.

How does Durkheim's view on class conflict differ from Karl Marx's?

While Marx sees capitalism and modern society as founded on domination, exploitation, and alienation, Durkheim does not consider economic baptism or class conflict as major factors. He views class conflict as a symptom rather than a cause of social problems.

What is the criticism of Durkheim's view on the division of labor and conflict?

The criticism is that Durkheim's view fails to capture the flaws in the division of labor and the significant role of conflicts, such as class struggles and economic inequalities, which are foundational aspects of the modern world.