Emily Durkheim
Mrs.Shaw
Durkheim.pptxWeek 6, Chapter 7: Emile Durkheim (1885-1917)
Spring 2021
Distinguishing Sociology from other disciplines
Empirical research
The study of social facts
Social Facts
Social Facts:
“the social structures and cultural norms and values that are external to, and coercive of, actors” (p.184)
Can be treated as things that can be studied empirically
Cannot be reduced to individuals
Can be explained by other social facts
Material and nonmaterial social facts
Material Social Facts
Relatively easy to understand because directly observable
E.g., architecture, forms of technology, legal codes
Nonmaterial Social Facts
Durkheim’s interests lie here
Can think about these things as norms and values, or culture
Identified 4 types of nonmaterial social facts:
1) morality
2) collective conscience
3) collective representations
4) social currents
More on social facts
Overall, Durkheim’s main argument regarding social facts is that they resulted in a new level of reality that exceeded any of the individuals who contributed to the reality; in other words, the complexity and intensity of interactions resulted in something above and beyond just the sum of the parts – could not be explained in terms of the individual actors.
The Division of Labor
Starts with the idea of solidarity (which Durkheim did not do all that good job of explaining), but basically referred to solidarity as:
A quality of a society that is used to explain why that society lasts and stays together
For Durkheim, maintaining solidarity in society as the world progresses is problematic unless there is something to tie the interests of individuals together, and this shapes the foundation for his work on the division of labor, including the progression of society from one based on mechanical solidarity to organic solidarity.
So, the division of labor thought to provide the basis of social solidarity
Progression of Society from one based on Mechanical Solidarity to one based on Organic Solidarity
Mechanical Solidarity
Characteristic of primitive societies
Society is unified by similarities across members; all people are generalists, engaging in similar activities and shared responsibilities
Have stronger collective conscience than modern societies; so society held together by collective understandings, beliefs, and values
Organic Solidarity
Characteristic of modern societies
Society is unified by differences across persons; members have different tasks and responsibilities and rely on/need one another
Society held together by division of labor, where need each others to meet needs; still have collective conscience but not as powerful as that in primitive societies, so room for more individual differences
Law as tied to type of society: Repressive vs. Restitutive Law
Laws are used to protect social solidarity
Society based on Mechanical Solidarity
Repressive Law
Belief in common morality
Any offense typically significant for most individuals; emotionally connected
Severe forms of punishment
Restitution to entire community
Society based on Organic Solidarity
Restitutive Law
Weak common morality
Not emotionally connected
Offenders made to make restitution to those harmed
3 Ways in which the move to modern society could result in pathology
*Important to note: sees most modern societies as “normal”, so these are potential exceptions
1. the anomic division of labor
When society lacks any regulation and instead reinforces individuality, no restraint placed on individuals telling them what they should and should not do
Leaves people not knowing what is proper or acceptable behavior
Typically, not enough social contact among, especially among parties in a given social relationship
2. the forced division of labor
Occurs when outdated norms and expectations force individuals, groups, and classes into positions for which they are ill suited
Typically, this happens when traditions, economic power, or status override talents and qualifications for placement into specific jobs
3. the poorly coordinated division of labor
Occurs when interdependence of people is lacking
Typical when specialization results in isolation rather than interdependence
