Lecture 9 - Organisational responses to the problem of work: An exploration through the works of Durkheim Flashcards
What is the main concept of egoism in contemporary societies?
- shared social realities are no longer taken for granted, leaving individuals to construct their own sense of purpose, leading to uncertainty and melancholy.
What is a key outcome of egoism related to confidence and certainty?
Individuals lose confidence and certainty that were once gained through shared beliefs, morals, and collective meanings.
What is the main concept of altruism in collectivist societies?
Individual lives are undervalued, and people often suppress their identities for the collective or an ideological vision.
What does Durkheim suggest about altruism?
Individuals may “discard their personalities” and become servants to the collective or an idea they prioritize above themselves.
What can altruism in collectivist societies lead to?
Individuals may willingly sacrifice themselves out of duty, to fulfill a leader’s vision, or to uphold an ideological stance.
What is anomie?
- Anomie is a state of normlessness
- where societal rules and values break down
- creating instability and confusion.
What causes anomie in contemporary societies?
It arises from a distortion between reality and unreality.
What are the consequences of anomie?
Anomie leads to uncertainty, instability, and insecurity about what is right or wrong, ethical or unethical.
What is Juridical Anomie?
A lack of laws or policies (e.g., on climate change or AI) that causes societal instability.
What is Economic Anomie?
A “success-at-any-cost” mentality leading to risky, unethical behaviors like fraud.
What is Moral Anomie?
Morality becomes subjective, reflecting the aims of individuals or organizations rather than collective norms.
What is the aspirational ethic?
It is the exploitation of self-worth and dreams to maintain continuous effort and productivity under the guise of self-actualization.
Why is self-actualization ambiguous?
Its abstract nature makes it unattainable, keeping individuals in perpetual pursuit and dependent on organizational structures.
How do organizations benefit from the aspirational ethic?
By promoting unattainable self-actualization, they maintain employee effort and productivity for capitalist ends.
