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The two types of social solidarity described by Durkheim are mechanical & organic. The organic bond is formed through natural differences in humans that leads to division of labor, & the mechanical bond forms because like humans are drawn each other.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
The two types of social solidarity described by Durkheim are mechanical & organic. The organic bond is formed through natural differences in humans that leads to division of labor, & the mechanical bond forms because like humans are drawn each other.
Paper Introduction:
In discussing the bond of social solidarity, Durkheim indicates that there are two ideal types of solidarity, one mechanical and the other organic. The bond of solidarity is that which defines a society and its rules and regulations. The rules can be transgressed by the criminal precisely because solidarity exists and stands against, is directed at, and defines crime. Crime is defined by Durkheim as an "act contrary to strong, well-defined states of common consciousness" (Durkheim, 60). He then indicates that it is possible to see what kind of solidarity the penal law symbolizes, and he says that it is clear that social cohesion exists when there is a certain conformity of each individual consciousness to a common type, the psychological type of society. Individuals in society are attracted to one another because they resemble one another, but they are also linked to the s
Text of the Paper:
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Mechanical solidarity is possible only so far as the individualpersonality is absorbed into the collective personality. In this type of solidarity,individuality can grow more freely (Durkheim, 84-85). Organic solidarity is the type of solidarity that brings about thedivision of labor, and it assumes that individuals are different from oneanother. All traces of commonconsciousness do not disappear, but the strength of them is lessened.Forces in society hold the individual in check, and the degree ofspecialization is the force that demonstrates a more concentrated degree ofsolidarity. The second is theaverage intensity of the states of collective consciousness. Durkheim states that he hashad to classify moral rules and to consider the main species among them: Thus we are better able than we were at the outset to perceive, or at the very least to conjecture, not merely the external signs but the internal character that is common to them all and that can serve to define them. The first consciousness represents our individualpersonality, while the second represents the collective type and thesociety of which it is a part. He thenindicates that it is possible to see what kind of solidarity the penal lawsymbolizes, and he says that it is clear that social cohesion exists whenthere is a certain conformity of each individual consciousness to a commontype, the psychological type of society. The strength of solidarity is important as itindicates how easily the individual can break his or her ties withcivilization. The more extensive this freearea is, the stronger the cohesion derived from the solidarity. Thisis the sort of solidarity that repressive law expresses (Durkheim, 6 -61). Morality is thesolidarity of the group, and morality varies as does that solidarity.Morality does not exist in the state of nature, for that state is (if notimmoral) amoral. The Division of Labor in Society. The firstcomprises only states that are personal to each of us, or ourcharacteristics as individuals, and the other comprises states common tothe whole of society. Durkheim says there are two consciousness within each of us. Thatexternal index is the body of rules which express the type of solidarityinvolved and the strength of that solidarity. New York: The Free Press, 1984. Work CitedDurkheim, Emile. At the same time, the activity of each individual becomes morespecialized. Division of labor exhibits the character by which we define morality,though it tends to become more and more the essential condition for socialsolidarity. The first is therelationship between the extent of the common consciousness and that of theindividual consciousness, and the social bonds are stronger the morecompletely the common overlaps with the individual. Solidarity is formed as we depend on others for theirspecialty, just as they depend on us for ours. Durkheimsays that each of us depends more intimately upon society the more labor isdivided up. Durkheimnotes that social solidarity is not something that is directly measurable,but there is an external index which can be used to symbolize socialsolidarity, and which can indicate the strength of social solidarity. The third isthe degree of determinateness of these same states, and the more clearcutthe beliefs and practices, the less room allowed for individualdivergences. Crime is defined by Durkheim as an "act contrary to strong,well-defined states of common consciousness" (Durkheim, 6 ). The collective consciousness leaves a part of the individualconsciousness uncovered, and so there can be established in it thosespecial functions that it cannot regulate. (Durkheim, 331) The first type are rules with a repressive sanction, and the secondare rules with a restitutory sanction. This means that each individual has apersonality. Both markforms of social solidarity indicated by the presence of rules. Morality is imposed by society in both cases,mechanical and organic, and Durkheim states that human beings are not moralfor any reason except that they live together in society. Organicsolidarity is possible only if each individual has a sphere of actionpeculiarly his or her own. Individuals in society areattracted to one another because they resemble one another, but they arealso linked to the society they form by coming together. Durkheim states that thecharacteristic of moral rules is that they represent the basic conditionsof social solidarity. However, these are all loosened when theindividual leaves home and strikes out on his own. The bond of solidarity is that which defines a society and itsrules and regulations. The strength of the social bonds deriving from mechanical solidarityand organic solidarity are dependent on three conditions. The two are joined in a solidarity derivedfrom resemblances, and therefore bind individuals directly to society. The individual is born with strong ties to family, to hisplace of birth, to the traditions of the past, and to the collectivepractices of the group. At the same time,mechanical solidarity becomes increasingly looser as we rise on the scaleof social evolution. Durkheim equates mechanical solidarity with positivesolidarity, and organic solidarity with negative solidarity. The rules can be transgressed by the criminalprecisely because solidarity exists and stands against, is directed at, anddefines crime. This is what isknown as mechanical solidarity, or solidarity of resemblances. In discussing the bond of social solidarity, Durkheim indicates thatthere are two ideal types of solidarity, one mechanical and the otherorganic. Durkheim makes distinctions as to the degree to which solidarity bindsus together, and he finds that mechanical solidary in general binds mentogether less strongly than does organic solidarity.
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