The Role of Education in Society as Discussed by Emile Durkheim, Pierre Bourdieu, and John W. Meyer

626 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Structural-functionalist theory

Theorists have long discussed the value of education in society as evidenced by the writings of Emile Durkheim, Pierre Bourdieu, and more recently John W. Meyer. Emile Durkheim believed in the theory of structural functionalism and its ability to provide social order. Durkheim felt institutions were a social fact that made the machine of society work in an orderly fashion. Education, being an institution has a standard set of rules accepted by individuals. Schools provide social groups, making the individual part of a larger cohesive collective society that provides the individual with a social network. While Durkheim believed in an orderly society, he also recognized a need for an individual to be educated in a manner that enhances his aptitude for a particular skill. Durkheim felt diversity in society helps us to get along and perpetuate order. However, Durkheim also felt that society can only survive with a certain amount of homogeneity, and it is the role of education to pass on social norms for future generations. Durkheim recognized that political and social ideals c...

Show More
Related

  • Health Issues, Sociological Theories and Classism

    745 Words  | 2 Pages

    This theory concentrates on different parts of society to see how it works, for example, a church, family and government this perspective looks at these to see what contribution this play to the entire social system. Durkheim states that the social system work’s like an organic system it can be he same way the body works which parts of the body are all depended on another, this theorist explains society is like this. We Must “Analyse the contribution which practises the institution makes to the continuation of society as a whole” (Giddens p.710 1995)

    Read More

  • Theorists Durkheim And Marx's Theory Of Class Conflict

    749 Words  | 2 Pages

    This was a result of the complexity, the increasing growth of the economy, and differing worldviews which were present in this society which were not prevalent in pre-industrial societies. However, division of labour which was forced upon individuals contributed to social disorder. Forced division of labour is defined as when an individual is forced to do a job which they are not suitable. To prevent this, he believed that education could play a crucial role in the process of allocation suitable people to the most appropriate jobs. Additionally, Durkheim contended all talented individuals should be given the equal opportunity to be employed to the jobs which they were the most suitable. Though, this equal opportunity did not entitle all individuals to equal wealth. Considering some jobs were deemed more important, they were to receive more incentives and wealth than others; making a certain amount of inequality inevitable. Though, Marx believed that inequality was inevitable due to being generated by

    Read More

  • Strengths And Weaknesses Of Emile Durkheim

    758 Words  | 2 Pages

    Much like the later structural functionalists that he would inspire, such as Radcliffe-Brown, Durkheim’s grounding in science led to a methodological strength. By focusing on understanding a single aspect of society, such as division of labor or suicide rates, Durkheim could focus on empirical data to create a testable hypothesis based on statistics. This makes it easy to refute and/or refine statements he made, but also made them easier to compare cross-culturally to see if variation exists.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Weber And Emheim Durkheim

    1215 Words  | 3 Pages

    Durkheim Emile Durkheim (1858 - 1917), believed individuals are determined by the society they live in because they share a moral reality that we have been socialised to internalise through social facts. Social facts according to Drukhiem are the “manners of acting, thinking and feeling external to the individual which are invested with a coercive power by virtue of which they exercise control over him [or her].” Social facts are external to the individual, they bind societies together because they have an emotional and moral hold on people, and are why we feel shame or guilt when we break societal convention. Durkheim was concerned with maintaining the cohesion of social structures. He was a functionalist, he believed each aspect of society contributes to society's stability and functioning as a whole.

    Read More

  • Durkheim's Conception Of Social Theories

    1200 Words  | 3 Pages

    Durkheim describes social facts as anyway of acting, thinking and feeling external to the individual and something that can be measured whether fixed or not (Johnson). Examples of social facts according to Durkheim were social institutions, such as kinship and marriage, political organizations and all other institutions of society that require that we take them into account in our everyday interactions with other members of our societies (Coser). Deviating from the norms

    Read More

  • A Bully Film Review

    1064 Words  | 3 Pages

    Durkheim was concerned with studying and observing the ways in which society functioned. His work began with the idea of the collective conscious, which are the general emotions and opinions that are shared by a society and which shape likeminded ideas as to how the society will operate (Desfor Edles and Appelrouth 2010:100-01). Durkheim thus suggested that the collective ideas shared by a community are what keeps injustices from continuing or what allows them to remain.

    Read More

  • The Roseto Mystery Theory

    2061 Words  | 5 Pages

    He explained that mechanical solidarity is the primitive society; where there is hardly any division of labor and that almost all people do the same things. Because society is become more modernized we are turning to a world of organic solidarity, which is when there is a division of labor. He explains that solidarity comes with differences and the there needs to be large contributions from many people in order to survive. He also explained his theory of dynamic density, which is the number of people and the frequency in which they interact will lead to changing from the mechanical solidarity to organic solidarity. This means that there would be more specialization in jobs leading to greater efficiency and productivity. This would lead to expanding the population leading to a larger division of labor. Durkheim suggested that this will lead to more peace and prosperity. In the town of Roseto a young priest encouraged the townsfolks to build up the town by planting fruits and vegetables, raising lifestock, and growing grapes to make wine. They also expanded the community by having public service such as schools, parks, convents, and cemeteries. Small shops, bakeries, restaurants, and bars also opened. Durkheims theory explains how society is better when people in the community split up the work. In the town of Roseto they divided the work so the community was more productive. Durkheim also explains how there is a collective conscience, which is the ideas shared within a society. This means that not one individual knows everything but rather as a while society people posses these ideas. In the Roseto community everyone was willing to work together so the community thrives. Durkheim saw many problems with moving towards organic solidarity. He thought that anomie, the feeling of not knowing what is expected. This is because in the collectivistic mechanical

    Read More

  • Compare And Summary Of Emile Durkheim And Karl Marx

    914 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout time, sociologists have studied our social behaviors and developed theories to explain such behaviors. Two of the most well-known sociologists are Emile Durkheim and Karl Marx. One of the most important thing that they have both studied that we have examined in class is capitalism and the division of labor, and how it affects the individual and the collective. Although their ideas were different, they each presented evidence to prove their theories about this topic.

    Read More

  • Karl Marx's Comparison Of Human Nature And Modern Society

    994 Words  | 2 Pages

    When it comes to the state, for example, it regulates the brain, achieving restorative justice and solidarity over the body. This ensures that social inequality is based primarily on merit. In the state of moral and dynamic density, individualism and rationality rise above “collective consciousness” and religion. However, for Durkheim, despite great cohesion, there are many pathological phenomena, such as anomie and some economic conflicts too. However, these are only temporary.

    Read More

  • Functionalism And Religion Essay

    1620 Words  | 4 Pages

    Durkheim is a key figure in understanding religion from a functionalist perspective. He believes that social order and stability can only exist if people are integrated into society by value consensus. Religion is seen as an important institution for achieving these functions as it sets a moral code for

    Read More

  • Explain The Functionalist View Of Deviance

    540 Words  | 2 Pages

    The main idea that functionalists have is that society is a complex unit. The founder of the Functionalist view Emile Durkheim believed that deviance is a normal and necessary because it contributes to the social order. He found four different parts of deviance:

    Read More

  • Functionalist Theory Essay

    565 Words  | 2 Pages

    Emile Durkheim’s Functionalist Theory is predicated on the ideologies that society is composed of components that are dependent on each other. Auguste Comte developed functionalism; Durkheim compared society to the human body. The body consists of different, interrelated organs that support it to survive; society consists of different workings that enable it to survive. There is a state of stability within society and if any component of that society alters it will reorganize itself to maintain stability. Functionalism will interpret the components of society in terms of contributions to the stability of the whole society. Social accord, direction and integration are paramount views of functionalism; society will endure and grow due to the shared norms and values; all individuals have a goal and vested interest to conformity and thus conflict is minimized (Pope, 1975).

    Read More

  • Educational Roles In Society: The Conflict Theory By Karl Marx

    895 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are many distinct institutions which correspond to the different roles that appear in society. As time change, it seem that certain institutions stand out from the rest, and in this case education serves as an essential component in society. Educational institutions play an important role in influencing the choices of individuals from their early childhood; presenting people with the objectives and values that are instilled by society. Education impacts individuals, groups, and society, whether it’s a positive or negative one. The Conflict Theory by Karl Marx will serve as tool to explain the points in this paper.

    Read More

  • Sociological Perspectives In Sociology: Functionalism And Conflict

    1192 Words  | 3 Pages

    Functionalism, first proposed by Durkheim is a theory which views society as a system of interlinking institutions, for example education, family and government which are reliant on each other to maintain balance and order within society (sociology twynham). Functionalists believe these institutions

    Read More

  • Education as a Social Institution

    847 Words  | 2 Pages

    Education is a vital part of society. It serves the beneficial purpose of educating our children and getting them ready to be productive adults in today's society. But, the social institution of education is not without its problems. Continual efforts to modify and improve the system need to be made, if we are to reap the highest benefits that education has to offer to our children and our society as a whole.

    Read More

More about The Role of Education in Society as Discussed by Emile Durkheim, Pierre Bourdieu, and John W. Meyer

Open Document