Week 5 durkheim

• Social order

  Determines the conditions for the conversations of society
• Social solidarity and Social Cohesion

  • Collective consciousness and common practices
  • Power of Collective representations of collective beliefs and common practices
• Transition from Segmental (traditional society) to Advance (modern) Society

  1. Mechanical solidarity

  2. Organic solidarity
• Mechanical Solidarity


  • Traditional, simple division of labour with undifferentiated functions
  • Immediate and close mutual dependency
  • Collective and shared experience
  • Solid Social Solidarity reproduced through Common norms and values
• Organic Solidarity


  • Modern, Complex division of labour with increasing specialised functions
  • Mediate and distance mutual dependency
  • Individual and differentiated experiences
  • Strong Individuation (The cult of the Individuals)
  • Fragmentation and anomie
  • Reason and choice
• Emile Durkheim: 'The malaise from which we are suffering is not rooted in any particular class. It is general over the whole of society. Suffering in all classes and in all its organs.'
• Suicide


  All cases of death resulting directly or indirectly from a positive or negative act of the victim himself which he knows will produce this result
• Suicide is stable within countries over time but different between countries
• Suicide is higher among unmarried and lower among those in larger families
• Suicide is lower in times of war and national crisis
• Types of Suicide

  • Egoistic suicide
  • Altruistic suicide
  • Anomic suicide
  • Fatalistic suicide
• Egoistic suicide


  Excessive individualism (modern), common among small families, result of insufficient social integration
• Altruistic suicide


  Insufficient individualism (traditional), death as a meaningful and honourable act in traditional society, result of excessive social integration, common among people living in collective society
• Anomic suicide


  Breakdown of normative framework (modern), the experience of meaninglessness (empty life), suicide due to needs and desires, common among people affected by ups and downs of economic cycle (in depression and by divorce)
• Fatalistic suicide


  Situations of hopelessness (both), suicide as a result of despair, common among childless married women, young husbands and slaves
• Religion


  • Transcendental nature, divided into 'Sacred' and 'Profane'
  • Foundational nature, spiritual foundation of society, moral and scientific
  • Practice of religion, invokes ritual practices and defining institutional forms
  • Sociological nature, dwelling importance of religion
• Social facts possess the remarkable property of existing outside the consciousness of the individual
• Sociology as a critical science must start from sense perceptions and all general ideas arise from empirical science
• Organic Solidarity


  A type of social bond that arises in modern, complex societies with a highly specialized division of labor. Characterized by individualism, differentiation, and mediation.
• Division of Labor


  The specialization of functions in a society, leading to interdependence among individuals and groups.
• Mutual Dependence


  The interdependence of individuals and groups in a society, where each relies on the other for the fulfillment of certain needs or functions.
• Mediation and Distance


  The way in which social institutions, such as the market, mediate and distance mutual dependence in Organic Solidarity, reducing the direct contact and personal relationships between individuals.
• Individualism and Differentiation


  The emphasis on individual identity, autonomy, and diversity in Organic Solidarity, as opposed to the collective identity and roles in Mechanical Solidarity.
• Strong Individuation


  The "cult of the individual" in Organic Solidarity, where individual identity and autonomy are highly valued and prioritized.
• Fragmentation and Anomie


  The potential for social disintegration and normlessness in Organic Solidarity, as traditional social bonds are weakened and individuals feel disconnected and alienated.
• Reason and Choice


  The increased autonomy and freedom that individuals have in Organic Solidarity, as they are less constrained by traditional roles and can make more rational and deliberate choices.
• Loss of Traditional Bonds


  The weakening or disappearance of traditional social bonds and roles in Organic Solidarity, leading to a sense of disconnection and alienation.
• Increased Individualism


  The emphasis on individual identity, autonomy, and freedom in Organic Solidarity, which can contribute to social fragmentation and a lack of shared norms and values.
• Rapid Social Change


  The rapid pace of social change in Organic Solidarity, which can create a sense of instability and uncertainty, undermining social cohesion and solidarity.
• Social Inequality and Injustice

  The marginalization, exclusion, or oppression of certain groups or individuals in Organic Solidarity, which can create social division and conflict, undermining the bonds of solidarity and shared identity.
• Religion


  A set of beliefs, practices, and rituals related to the divine or supernatural. Can provide a spiritual foundation for individuals and society and shape moral values and scientific inquiry.
• Sacred

  Considered holy, sacred, or set apart from the ordinary. Part of the two categories of religion, along with Profane.
• Profane


  Ordinary or secular, not associated with religious significance. Part of the two categories of religion, along with Sacred.
• Transcendental nature of religion

  Refers to the idea that religion transcends the physical world and offers a connection to something greater. Can provide a sense of meaning, purpose, and ultimate concern.
• Foundational nature of religion

  Religion can serve as a foundation for society, shaping moral values and scientific inquiry. Can provide a framework for understanding the world and one's place in it.
• Practice of religion


  Involves the performance of rituals and other practices. Can include prayer, meditation, worship, and other activities that help individuals connect with the divine. Often involves participation in a religious community or institution.
• Sociological nature of religion

  Religion can play an important role in social cohesion and community building. Can shape social norms and values, and provide a sense of belonging and identity. The importance of religion can vary across different cultures and societies.
• Social facts


  A concept in sociology introduced by Émile Durkheim, referring to ways of acting, thinking, or feeling that exist outside of the individual and are collective phenomena arising from the interactions of many individuals. Examples include language, laws, customs, and social norms.
• Collective phenomena


  Ways of acting, thinking, or feeling that arise from the interactions of many individuals. These phenomena exist outside of the individual and are shaped by the social context in which they occur.
• Coercive power


  The ability of social facts to shape the behavior and beliefs of individuals, even if they are not aware of it. Social facts have a power over individuals that is independent of their will.