Thursday, October 27, 2011

According to Durkheim, how is order maintained in the transition from a traditional to a modern society.

In his works, Durkheim theorized the importance of
re-establishing social cohesion in a modern industrial society. In his doctoral thesis
The Division of Labor (1893), he argued that primitive societies
are marked by mechanical solidarity, while more complex, industrial societies require an
organic solidarity. Primitive societies could be divided into self-sufficient segments,
while in modern societies all their segments must develop a sense of "mutual dependence"
so that the conflicts between their different demands can be addressed and solved. Thus,
contrary to many of his contemporaries, Durkheim did not idealize primitive communities
finding their forms of solidarity induced and forced. To achieve this sense of organic
solidarity, a new civic morality and and a new consensus must be constructed. The
educational system is vital to this construction. Another important factor in
maintaining order is the regulation of the economic markets and of the relationships
between worker and employer. This external regulation of working conditions and the
abolition of the forced division of labor should aim to give everyone equal
opportunities for his/her talents.

No comments:

Post a Comment

What accomplishments did Bill Clinton have as president?

Of course, Bill Clinton's presidency will be most clearly remembered for the fact that he was only the second president ever...