SOC 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Merriam-Webster, Mechanical And Organic Solidarity, Social Fact
Document Summary
Introduction to the division of labor in society. Durkheim argued that economic specialization was not necessarily bad for either the individual or the society as a whole. Instead, he argued that an extensive division of labor could exist without necessarily jeopardizing the moral cohesion of a society or the opportunity for individuals to realize their interests. Economic specialization = the division of labor (p. 110) Mechanical solidarity is typified by feelings of likeness. It is rooted in everyone doing/feeling the same thing. Type of solidarity is characteristic of small, traditional societies. Organic solidarity refers to a type of solidarity in which each person is interdependent with others, forming a complex web of cooperative associations. It comes from cultivating individual differences and knowing that each is doing her part for the good of the whole. Mechanical & organic solidarity vs. gemeinschaft & gesellschaft. Cf. p. 294-295, hint see page 110n. 1.
