modified:: 2023-10-18, 2352
up:: Durkheim Theory
tags:: Societal Solidarity
Durkheim's Societal Shift
Overview
As we transition from Segmentary Society to Organised Society, Collective Consciousness weakens and is gradually substituted by Division of Labour as the dominant source of Societal Solidarity.
Implications
Shifting from Segmentary Society to Organised Society means Societal Solidarity is increasingly provided by Organic Solidarity over Mechanical Solidarity.
Most implications to the Social Facts (including Moral Facts) are due to the differences in the natures of Mechanical Solidarity & Organic Solidarity and changing between them.
- Division of Labour is increasingly critical for Societal Solidarity.
- See #Quotes#Essential Condition.
Too Fast
Mechanical vs Organic Solidarity
- Focus of Moral Facts shifts from conformity to ensuring harmony & peace of interdependence.
- Shift from Repressive Laws to Restitutive Laws making up most of society's laws.
- See Durkheim's Freedom and Individuality for quotes.
- Durkheim's Freedom and Individuality: Members of society need conform less & and have more freedom.
- Organic Solidarity means we are different by definition, so conformity is senseless.
- Collectivism -> Individualism.
- Although Collective Consciousness is weakened, the most essential & general Moral Facts remain.
- i.e., murder is bad.
Why
This might not be accurate, based on summaries & recitation rather than source material.
- Ppl move to towns & cities -> Increased Social Density.
- Density -> Acute Competititon -> Division of Labour to avoid competition.
- See #Quotes#Competition causes Division of Labour.
- Division of Labour -> Higher productivity -> More ppl move -> Increased Social Density.
- More interdependent ties over higher Social Density -> Dynamic Density -> More morality compared to diffused Organic Solidarity?
- Its in Durkheim - Division of Labour in Society (Partial) (1893) Book 1 Chapter 2 The Causes which I skipped.
- #FINDQUOTE
- J-H: I believe Weber's Rationalization/Modernization is a better explanation of what causes the shift in society (Division of Labour as economic role).
Quotes
Competition causes Division of Labour
"If labour becomes increasingly divided as societies become more voluminous and concentrated, it is not because the external circumstances are more varied, it is because the struggle for existence becomes more strenuous." (Durkheim, 1893, pg 208)
"Thanks to [Division of Labour], rivals are not obliged to eliminate one another completely, but can coexist side by side." (Durkheim, 1893, pg 213)
Essential Condition
"Not only does the division of labour exhibit that character by which we define morality, but it increasingly tends to become the essential condition for social solidarity." (Durkheim, 1893, 332)