Durkheim (Functionalism) Flashcards
What is Society ‘sui generis’ (in and of itself)?
- a social fact = way of acting
- an external constraint on an individual
- independent of individual manifestiations
- A social fact is every way of acting, fixed or not, capable of exercising on the individual an external constraint; or again, every way of acting which is general throughout a given society, while at the same time existing in its own right independent of its individual manifestations.*
How or why is Society ‘sui generis’ (in and of itself) used?
- by Durkhein
- to describe phenomena not bound to the actions of individuals but has a conercive influence upon them
- Durkheim’s work revolved around the study of social facts, a term he coined to describe phenomena that have an existence in and of themselves, are not bound to the actions of individuals, but have a coercive influence upon them.*
Where was Society ‘sui generis’ (in and of itself) first cited?
Durkheim
1895
The Rules of Sociological Method
What are the problems/limitations of Society ‘sui generis’ (in and of itself)?
- social facts or ways of acting are independent of the actions of individuals
- confined to the belief that only social facts can explain social phenomena - not individuals.
- Durkheim argued that social facts have, sui generis, an independent existence greater and more objective than the actions of the individuals that compose society. Only such social facts can explain the observed social phenomena.*
What is ‘Organic’ view society: ‘Whole more than the sum of the parts’?
- Compares society to the body of an animal:
- People are cells (i.e. constantly being replaced)
- Each organ represents a function within society
How or why is ‘Organic’ view society: ‘Whole more than the sum of the parts’ used?
- by Durkheim
- to compare compound (no centralised government) societies
- Durkheim used the organic analogy to compare compound societies (those which are lacking a centralised government).*
What are the problems/limitations of ‘Organic’ view society: ‘Whole more than the sum of the parts’?
- Durkheim does not consider the individual
- the individual is a product of society
- The individual is not a consideration for Durkheim: Thus very far from there being the antagonism between the individual and society which is often claimed, moral individualism, the cult of the individual, is in fact the product of society itself.*
Where was ‘Organic’ view society: ‘Whole more than the sum of the parts’ first cited?
Durkheim
1893
The Division of Labour
What is Mechanic Solidarity vs. Organic Solidarity?
- Mechanic Solidarity = cohesion & integration comes from the homogeneity of individuals (small scale societies e.g. tribal)
- Organic Solidarity = interdependence from specialisation and complementarities between people (westernised societies)
- According to Durkheim, the types of social solidarity correlate with types of society and that a society will evolve from Mechanic to Organic. In a society exhibiting mechanical solidarity, its cohesion and integration comes from the homogeneity of individuals— people feel connected through similar work, educational and religious training, and lifestyle. Organic solidarity comes from the interdependence that arises from specialisation of work and the complementarities between people.*
- Mechanical solidarity normally operates in “traditional” and small scale societies. In tribal societies for example solidarity is usually based on kinship ties of familial networks. Organic solidarity is a development which occurs in more westernised societies.*
How or why is Mechanic Solidarity vs. Organic Solidarity used?
- by Durkheim
- to show that types of social solidarity correlate with types of society
- to support Durkheim’s belief that a society will evolve from Mechanic to Organic
What are the problems/limitations of Mechanic Solidarity vs. Organic Solidarity?
- Based on a now defunct socio-evolutionary approach
- Increasing population density
- Development of more complex social interactions
- Increasing specialisation in workplace.
- In a socioevolutionary approach, Durkheim described the evolution of societies from mechanical solidarity to organic solidarity (one rising from mutual need). As the societies become more complex, evolving from mechanical to organic solidarity, the division of labour is counteracting and replacing collective consciousness. In the simpler societies, people have much fewer options in life. In organic solidarity, people are much more integrated and interdependent and specialisation and cooperation is extensive. Progress from mechanical to organic solidarity is based on: 1. Population growth and increasing population density 2. Increasing “morality density” (development of more complex social interactions) 3. Increasing specialisation in workplace.*
Where was Mechanic Solidarity vs. Organic Solidarity first cited?
Durkheim
1893
The Division of Labour
What is Mechanic Solidarity vs. Organic Solidarity often compared to?
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution.
What is ‘Conscience Collective’?
Describes the shared feelings and impulses which are experienced in their simplest form within an excited crowd.
How or why is ‘Conscience Collective’ used?
- by Durkheim
- to investigate how Collection Consciousness changed as a society transformed from compound to complex
- used late C19th France as a his model
- Durkheim used the idea to investigate how the Collective Consciousness changed as a society was transformed from a compound to a complex state. Durkheim used the changes which were taking place in late C19th France during the Industrial Revolution as his model.*
