Summary Of Emile Durkheim Theory

In Durkheim's opinion a whole is not identical to the sum of its parts, thus society is not just a mere sum of individuals.

The division of labor is a complex phenomenon that is characterized by varying aspects of an individual’s social connection to the society in which they reside. The Division of labor is a broad process that affects and influences many aspects of life such as political, judicial, and administrative functions (Bratton & Denham, 2014). Two of the main sociological theorists, Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim, had different understandings of the notion about the division of labor. This topic has been contested and debated by many theorists but this paper is going to focus on how Emile Durkheim and Karl Marx views this topic. Karl Marx views the division of labor as a process that alienates the individual from their work (Llorente, 2006). Marx also views the division of labor as a way for the capitalist bourgeoisie to take advantage of the wage labor of the proletariat. Emile Durkheim identifies with Marx in the economic sense that the division of labor furthers the rationalization and bureaucratization of labor, but differs in that the division of labor provides individuals in society with social solidarity and ensures their connection to society. This paper is going to reflect on some of the aspects in which Emile Durkheim and Karl Marx view the division of labor, while showing some of the similarities and differences between the two theorists conception of the topic.

Durkheim lived at the same time as Weber, but they view on a division of labour and influence of that, differed significantly. Durkheim held a more optimistic view on the division of labour. The division of labour in his opinion is a sign of a developed society because there is a need to exchange results of the activity, perform complementary functions. He thought that division of labour brings diversity, and the more it is, the stronger the people's desire for unity and exchange. He argues that division of labour led from mechanical to organic solidarity. Durkheim believed that pre-industrial societies were based on mechanical solidarity when people feel solidarity because they are similar. When society develops and work

Emile Durkheim, was a French sociologist. His theories and writings helped establish the foundations of modern sociology. Durkheim disagreed with most social theorists of the late 1800 's because they thought that individual psychology was the basis of sociology. Durkheim regarded sociology as the study of the society that surrounds and influences the individual. Durkheim explained his theories in his book The Rules of Sociological Method (1895). He says there is relationship between moral values and religious beliefs, which establishes unity in society.Emile Durkheim has long been viewed as one of the founders of the so called variables oriented approach to sociological investigation. Durkheim developed the theory that societies are bound together by two sources of unity. He called these sources mechanical solidarity and organic solidarity. Mechanical solidarity refers to similarities that many people in the society share, such as values and religious beliefs. Organic solidarity results from the division of labor into specialized jobs. Durkheim believed that the division of labor makes people depend on one another and thus helps create unity in a society. Durkheim studied thousands of cases of suicide to demonstrate his theory that a person commits suicide because of the

Durkheim believed that the division of labor would individualize the people and would create differences amongst the people in a society. Not only does he believe that the division of labor is necessary for civilization to play out like Smith said, but he also said it was a desire for people to be different from each other. Unlike Marx, he believed that this division and differentiation of labor was allowing for a different morale that catered to this system. Even though society is differentiating, it does not mean that the morality of the people is being lost. In fact, he believed that this division of labor was producing what he called an, organic solidarity or morale in which an individual becomes more differentiated from others around him, yet are still integrated in the larger society (Durkheim DL: 37). In contrast to Marx, he believed that division of labor did not create alienation but rather it allowed for people to interact more, as the solidarity changes, people find meaning in their work. Durkheim said that “teach organ, in fact, has its special characteristics, its autonomy, and yet, the greater the unity of the organism, the more marked is the individuation of its parts (Durkheim, DL, 38). The individual becomes more dependent on society. Like Smith, he believed that the division of labor allows for a

This perspective originated with Émile Durkheim, a French sociologist, social psychologist, and philosopher, and the one who formally established and is considered the father of sociology, as the social sciences was not considered an independent field of study separate from philosophy at the time of his writings. Durkheim was interested in how social order and society as a whole remains stable, and used a scientific approach to study society. As Kenneth Allan quotes from Émile Durkheim (2005), “…if, in addition, society lacks the unity based upon the commitment of men’s wills to a common objective, then it is no more than a pile of sand that the least jolt or the slightest puff will suffice to scatter” (p. 136). Using this view of society as a creation of a collective group of individuals that work toward a common objective, functionalism looks at the institutions of society and how they contribute to the society’s stability. These institutions include the government, family, education, medicine, the justice system, the military, mass media, and other similar formal organizations. Each of these institutions are organized to fulfill the different needs of society and are all interdependent. Functionalism focuses on the order and social stability of a society, and credits disorganization and a lack of adaptation to new and changing times as the causes of social

As organic solidarity is typical of complex, industrialised societies, Durkheim’s theory is very applicable to modern life and the first world in particular. Individuality is a major feature of people living in the western world today e.g. the USA, UK, and Ireland. This is evident in our political and social thinking. Much emphasis is placed on personal rights and the belief that nothing is more important than us. (Hughes et al, 1995) Meanwhile we are not self-sufficient; we rely heavily on the expertise of thousands globally to live our daily lives e.g. the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the cars we drive etc. (Macionis and Plummer, 2005)

In The Division of Labor in Society, there are four parts: the problem, the function, the causes, and the forms of the divisions of labor. In his work, he critiqued and analyzed these aspects in great detail. Thinking on society Durkheim came to realization that the forces of production and capital were leading the industries, businesses, and agriculture of the time towards a specialization of occupations (Nelson 2013a). He realized that this was not only present in the world of economics but also the judicial, administrative, aesthetic and even his world of philosophy as well which was leading to a state of moral conflict and antagonism. This lead to the second part of his work, the function, in which Durkheim believed, was not a moral rule since it

For Marx inequality is derived from the unfair exploitation of one group by another, in this instance the bourgeois class exploiting the proletariat. The workers are subject to the terms of the employer to earn a wage to upkeep their subsistence because they do not own their own means of production. (_)The employers use this to their advantage to earn extra labour.(_) Structural imbalance is inherent to a capitalist system as the bourgeoisie are poised in a position of power whilst the proletariat at weak and subject to unfair condition (GI192) is unjust and unfair. The conflicting interest between these groups create a class antagonism. Marx warns that societal inequality will create further create conflict between classes, potentially leading to social change or revolution(GI p.184). For Durkheim inequality isn't necessarily a problem. Unlike Marx, who believes that problems arise by internal contradictions, Durkheim thinks that problems are caused by internal dysfunction within the system and that they can be resolved. Inequality is a natural within the functions of an advanced capitalist society. The division of labour separates people in society according to their merit and through merit individuals can be rewarded for their work.(_)Moral regulation and economic regulation are both crucial in maintaining organic solidarity so that people can understand that there is a justifiable and moral reason for their differences within

Where Marx saw the modern industrial world as a necessary step to freedom, Durkheim saw it as a development with specific social phenomenon which he refers to as “social facts” that needed to be studied scientifically as explained in The Division of Labor in Society. These social facts were outside the individual and were capable of exercising power over the individual and influencing behaviour.

Emile Durkheim would stand to say that we need social media, despite negative effects. He would state that, although as an American culture centered around social media can cause us to be way too focus on our “internet lives”, mass media plays a very important duty to the American people. It provides everyone, with news, entertainment, and socialization. Durkheim questioned how our societies maintain their internal stability and survive over time. And like a body’s systems all working together to create life, society and social media work together like the brain works with the heart. Societies are growing larger and mass social media is a good medium to reach out to many people at once. It keeps us informed and at the same time allows us to

Durkheim stressed how interconnectivity within a society is necessary for success and ultimate balance and stability. He linked the human body and its organs to society; the organs being the necessary parts that work collectively to maintain stability and keep the person alive. Cultural norms and values are placed within a society because of the socially deviant members who break said established norms, which calls for punishment and consequences. Such deviant actions could be in the form of social movements, protests, crime etc. Crime has been a part of human civilization since the beginning of time, and many argue that crime breaks the organic and mechanical solidarity that is, therefore crime is bad and should be extinguished from society.

David Emile Durkheim was a French sociologist who was born on the 15th of April 1858. His mother was a merchant’s daughter and his father, Moise, has been rabbi of Epinal since the 1830s. Emile Durkheim grandfather and great grandfathers were also rabbi’s so everyone assumed he would follow that path. He dismissed this ambition early on when he left rabbi school and went to College of Epinal where he was an outstanding student. Durkheim was so good he skipped two years easily obtaining his baccalaureates in letters and sciences. He then decided he wanted to become a teacher so he decided to go to Paris to train to become a teacher. Durkheim failed his first two attempts at the examination but finally got in on his third try.

One of Emile Durkheim’s famous beliefs was called Functionalism. Functionalism is the theory that society is a part of multiple functions and that when one function lacks then it will affect society as a whole. I believe this theory is true because everything has an impact on something. For example, Governments provide education for children then they can get a good paying job and pay taxes to help the state run efficiently. If the government lacks at giving children the right education, then they may drop out and cause financial trouble for the state by becoming criminals.

Durkheim argues that within this society its members are allocated within the division of labour depending on the amount of merits you have and so the more merits you gain the more rewards you will have. Thus Durkheim argued that in this modern society in order to maintain order moral and economical regulations are needed.