Durkheim’s Thesis on Social Solidarity in Different Types of Societies

Durkheim’s thesis in regards to social solidarity, based upon his views, which explain individuals influenced by social facts. The social facts he outlined and referred to as a “thing” (Ritzer, p 185) are the languages spoken, buildings, and ethics. Durkheim viewed social facts being outside of the individual but yet powerful in shaping the individual. Social facts defined as material and nonmaterial. Material social facts visible such as buildings, while nonmaterial social facts difficult to see but as a society we know they exist. The nonmaterial social facts are customs, cultures and norms for any given society (Ritzer, p 188). Social facts according to Durkheim, required research. Durkheim believed studying the nonmaterial social facts as being the most significant and at the heart of his theory (Ritzer, p 188).

Accordingly, Durkheim theorized about two different types of societies, based upon two different types of solidarity. . The first being a “Mechanical Solidarity” (Palumbo et al, 2005) a society based upon collective consciousness, sharing common beliefs, norms and values. Within Mechanical Solidarity, referred to as “traditional” and “small scale” (Sociology Index) individuals experienced a solidarity based upon a strong sense of belonging to their community,

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Through their work, religious beliefs and similar lifestyles. An example of Mechanical Solidarity would be a smaller town or area, who worked together sharing common values amongst the community, or perhaps even an area where strong religious beliefs tied them to one another. According to (Palumbo et al, 2005) within Mechanical Solidarity, individuals did not have a strong individual identity, but they experienced strong bonds within their...

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... Durkheim and Marx introduced valid points regarding society. I do not think both of them are entirely correct, but I think the blend of both of their theories and concepts sum up society as it is today.

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References:

Durkheim’s Anomie. (ND). Retrieved January 16, 2014 from,

http://criminology.fsu.edu/crimtheory/week8.htm.

Palumbo, Antonio and Scott, Alan. (2005). Classical Social Theory I: Marx and Durkheim.

Modern Social Theory. A. Harrington (Ed.). Oxford University Press, Oxford 2005,

pp. 40-62, Retrieved January 16, 2014, from,

http://www.academia.edu/683127/Classical_Social_Theory_I_Marx_and_Durkheim

Ritzer, George (2011). Classical Sociological Theory, (6th Ed). Boston: McGraw Hill.

Sociology Index. (ND). Retrieved January 16, 2014, from,

http://www.sociologyindex.com/mechanical_solidarity.htm