Division of Labour in Society (1893) - Durkheim

Question 1

What is mechanical solidarity?

Answer 1

• Based on similarity, creating a strong collective conscience that binds them together. Indivs share similar values, beliefs, ways of life, leading to a strong sense of social cohesion
• Characterises traditional, pre-modern societies

Question 2

What is organic solidarity?

Answer 2

Interdependence, with specialization of roles where indivs with specialised roles & functions play diff roles but we are protected by different rights

Common in modern societies where indivs rely on one another to perform diff tasks when societies undergo industrialisation & experience division of labour, they transition to organic solidarity

Question 3

According to Durkheim, what signals the emergence of modernity?

Answer 3

• increasing division of labour during transition from traditional society to industrial & capitalist society
• path to modernity marked by conflict, instability & crises of capitalist society (liminal space btwn traditional & modern)
• transition is good & desirable for society as it signifies progressiveness
• abnormalities/pathologies that arise from modernity are temporary

Question 4

What is a critique of Durkheim’s understanding of transition from traditional to modern society?

Answer 4

societal change is natural & spontaneous, but it is contradictory as it does not address processes of Western colonialism & imperialism engendering coerced societal transformations, which are effects that Durkheim witnessed during his lifetime.
Ironic because European societies had transited to industrial capitalism through revolutionary routes marked by chaos, disorder and turmoil

Question 5

What did Durkheim study to derive the types of society?

Answer 5

Criminal laws - these laws are a way to get people to conform, hence we can understand value of society

Question 6

What kind of law/punishment characterised societies with mechanical solidarity?

Answer 6

Repressive laws:
- when someone threatens sameness / solidarity of society, eradicate those who try to challenge way of life
- publicly shame to not commit crimes
- judge who sentences punishments is a representation of our society’s beliefs, values & norms
- Every society has some sort of law to represent & reinforce values of that time

Question 7

What kind of law/punishment characterised societies with organic solidarity?

Answer 7

Restitutive laws:
- focuses on restoring one’s position and reintegration into society (restoring social order)
- various parts of society working together to keep each other safe

Question 8

What kind of law do modern societies shift their focus to?

Answer 8

From criminal to civil laws (e.g. family law, contractual law)
As society’s DOL becomes more complex, we rely on one another more as we become too specialised to be able to survive independent of one another.

Question 9

What is collective conscience? What is an example?

Answer 9

“totality of beliefs & sentiments common to average citizens”, binding indivs across generations & reflecting shared societal values.

• traditional societies with mechanical solidarity
• set of shared beliefs, values, norms within a society, exists above & beyond indiv members & represents social norms that govern behavior
• collective reality crucial for ensuring social cohesion, as it provides a framework for moral guidance & societal stability.

Question 10

What is the relationship between religion and collective conscience?

Answer 10

Religion is a form of collective conscience & plays a central role in Durkheim’s understanding of collective conscience because it served (historically) as main institution through which shared moral values reinforced.

Question 11

What are negative rights?

Answer 11

Restrains ppl by limiting their actions (e.g. cannot enter people’s homes without permission)

Protect indivs from harm (e.g., prohibitions against assault)

Question 12

What are positive rights?

Answer 12

Compels people to act in a certain way to fulfil complex duties and obligations (e.g. contract laws, taxes)

Question 13

What does Durkheim mean by, “An act is criminal when it offends the collective conscience”?

Answer 13

A crime is defined not by the act itself but by its violation of a society’s shared values & norms. The state codifies these violations into laws.

Question 14

How does the division of labour (DOL) impact society?

Answer 14

As DOL becomes more specialized, society progresses from mechanical to organic solidarity.
DOL fosters interdependence but can lead to anxiety as indivs navigate choices in a complex society.

Question 15

Why is organic solidarity described as more clinical and unemotional?

Answer 15

laws are formulaic & impartial, diffused within society like specialized organs, treating indivs as autonomous beings without public shaming or emotional involvement.

Question 16

What does the quote, “The division of labour becomes increasingly specialized as society progresses,” signify?

Answer 16

It reflects shift from homogeneity in mechanical solidarity to interdependence & specialization in organic solidarity.

Question 17

What is the concept of collective effervescence in mechanical solidarity?

Answer 17

Collective effervescence refers to the shared emotional excitement & unity experienced during communal activities, often linked to religious rituals. It uplifts individuals, providing encouragement & strength, reinforcing collective conscience.

Question 18

How does Durkheim’s idea of homo duplex relate to individual and society?

Answer 18

Homo duplex refers to the dual nature of humans as both indiv & social beings. Society (the “leviathan” or brain) exerts control over indivs (the body), shaping their behaviors through social facts & collective conscience.

Question 19

What is the relationship between social facts and the law in Durkheim’s framework?

Answer 19

Social facts are reflected in laws, which codify collective conscience. Laws evolve to address societal needs, transitioning from repressive to restitutive as societies become more complex.

Question 20

Why are crimes considered a break in social solidarity in mechanical societies?

Answer 20

In mechanical solidarity, crimes violate shared beliefs & values of society, threatening collective conscience. Punishments severe to reinforce norms & eliminate deviance, maintaining social cohesion.

Question 21

The difference of collective conscious in traditional vs modern societies?

Answer 21

• In simpler societies with less division of labor, collective conscience is stronger & more homogeneous, as indivs share similar work, experiences, beliefs.
• In modern, complex societies, collective conscience becomes less dominant but still crucial, serving as a moral regulation that ensures indivs act in a way that benefits broader social order.

Question 22

Describe religion in traditional societies?

Answer 22

• in traditional societies, religious rituals and beliefs unite individuals by emphasizing the sacred and the moral duties they owe to one another. These religiously grounded values foster social integration and create a moral order.
• E.g. Totem -serves as both a religious symbol and a representation of the group’s collective identity.

Question 23

Describe religion in traditional societies?

Answer 23

• the collective conscience becomes less dependent on religion. The division of labor creates more specialized roles and increases individualism, which weakens the direct influence of religion over social life.
• Laws, national identities, political ideologies, capitalism took over role of religion

Question 24

How is the division of labour related to organic solidarity?

Answer 24

As societies evolve from simple, traditional forms to more complex, modern forms, the division of labour increases.

This leads to greater interdependence because people are specialized and rely on each other to fulfill various roles, social cohesion comes from the cooperation between different functions within the society.

Question 25

As the division of labour becomes more developed, what happens to the individual?

Answer 25

Greater DOL allows individuals to develop their personal capacities and achieve individual success thus creating greater individualism.

However, the risk of derangement [dereglement] or anomie rises. The individuals no longer have clear guidance on what is reasonable or acceptable to desire or pursue.

E.g. in modern capitalist societies with highly developed divisions of labor, individuals might chase endless economic gain because society no longer provides clear moral boundaries on how much is enough. This can result in constant dissatisfaction, frustration, and disconnection.