durkheim division of laber

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Emile Durkheim main concern was social order, and how individual integrated to maintain it. The Division of Labor was one of Durkheim’s first major works. Society is a system of inter-related and inter-connected of not only individuals but also subgroups interacting with one another. Durkheim is interested on how this division of labor changes the way that individuals feel when they are part of society as a whole. As society advances it becomes more complex, and as it becomes more complex, it gets harder to maintain with the rise of conflict. According to Durkheim, this is why society has its division of labor, and in order to survive, society is broken down to certain specializations where people are more dependent on each other. Durkheim believed that the division of labor begins when the social, economic and political boundaries dividing segments begin to break down and smaller segments come together. Within these segments, Durkheim describes another degree of integration which is broken down into two aspects; Mechanical Solidarity and Organic Solidarity. Within in these social solidarities, he identifies a system of social relations linking individuals to each other and to the society as a whole.
Societies where solidarity is mechanical, are referred to a bonding of individuals based on common beliefs and values, which more tied by a kinship aspect. “Mechanical Solidarity is based upon a strong collective conscience regulating the thought and actions of individuals located with structural units that are all alike” (Turner). Individuals are bind together where they share a similar customs and morality. As a result of this type of social link, it is difficult to distinguish the individual’s values versus society’s value. Because people live in a community where each individual must work together to provide a well-being for another, they become far too dependent on each other. This type of livelihood suppresses the individual conscience and in fact encourages the collective conscience. By having such a homogenous population, a system of belief is uniformly shared throughout, constructing a standardized attitude and actions amongst the people often rooted in religious laws. Social bonds are of responsibility rather than contract, therefore the division of labor is divided into tasks for collective...

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... to abide by. According to Durkheim, morality consists of three elements: rules, attachments to groups, and voluntary constraint. Morality is essentially a system of rules for guiding the actions of people. In addition to these guidelines, moral rules attach people into groups. Man does not associate with society as a whole; he on the other hand, has a closer relationship with several smaller groups: for example families, churches, and further more political associations. Morality provides self-control and a commitment to collectiveness. With the presence of moral rules, anomie, safe to say can be eliminated, and social control is strengthened. Another way that morality contributes to social control is voluntary constraint. The people are more disciplined. However, this is does not always apply to any society. In a simpler or mechanical society, where collective conscience is high, “morality seems to operate automatically.” The natural growth of complexity seems to the deteriorate morality, where it must be implemented in order to maintain social control. Through moral education and strengthening values within associations, and as society advance, social control will be preserved.

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