DurkheimWhat is Modernity?

Sociological Imagination and Investigation

Week 7

What does ‘Modernity’ mean?

(Very broadly) it is used to cover the complex of:

The Enlightenment conviction that human reason can understand and improve social forms

Urbanization (slowly replacing rural life) with the development of trade/crafts in towns. Mercantile capitalism, preceding -

Industrialization as the new mode of production based upon the division of labour - capitalism

In The Division of Labour ‘Modernity is seen as new (but undated)

It can only be understood by comparison with what it replaces. So, he presents a two-part theory Old (primitive/traditional) segmental

societies gave way to: New (roughly post-feudal) co-

operative societies

The transformation from one to the other is his account of Modernity’s development

Segmented SocietiesTheir three main features

A lack of differentiation (of institutions, groups, and people), rooted in low division of labour – only some sexually-based differences

Social integration is very high, because not enough material differences to lead to conflict

Similarity to one another (individuality almost nil) because insufficient cultural differences to pull the group apart – reinforced by elementary religion

Limited division of labour in ‘segmented societies’ (primitive)

Generates ‘Mechanical solidarity’ based upon

similarities

Society is like ‘a jumble of juxtaposed atoms’, united because almost identical

The index of ‘mechanical solidarity’ (an unobservable) is the extent of REPRESSIVE LAW (criminal law), which is observable

Public punishment of deviants reinforces social rules and similarity of behaviour

Outside Newgate Prison, LondonRegular public entertainment

Co-operative society in Modernity

Main characteristics:

Specialization of occupations Differentiation of institutions Individuation of personalities

All three look as if they would pull society apart – so what promotes co-operation?

Division of Labour promotes co-operation because of

interdependence Specialization allows different people

to attain different ends in the same city

We become interdependent with others to the extent that we are doing different tasks (jobs)

This generates ‘organic solidarity’ Proportion of Restitutive law is its

index ‘the contract is, par excellence the

expression of co-operation’ [Torts, company law, law of contracts]

The interdependencies of one person doing a particular job

Farmers Shop-keepers Doctors/dentists Public utilities Entertainers Publishers Transport workers

Full-time teacher depends on

Transition from ‘mechanical’ to ‘organic’ solidarity

Segmental societies declined under population pressure (?)

Movement to towns increased ‘dynamic density’ i.e. frequency and intensity of interaction [NOTE ‘Explaining one social fact by another]

Initially there is competition, but DIFFERENTIATION permits harmoneous CO-OPERATION

Reintegration in Modernity on basis of ‘Organic Solidarity’

T1 Integration (mechanical)

T2 Differentiation

T3 Reintegration (organic)time

Do all live happily ever after?[Read ‘Pathologies of the Division of

Labour’ – last chapter]

Pathologies, NOT found in organisms, casting organic analogy into doubt:

FORCED division of labour – Class conflict i.e. unfair fit between natural abilities and occupational rewards

ANOMIC division of labour – work as means and as ends become dislocated (e.g. pointlessness of job – Fordism)

Neither are found in ‘early’ societies

How to cure Modernity through Social Engineering

Durkheim is optimistic that Modernity can be ‘cured’ of its pathologies

By introducing: common education; meritocratic appointments; abolition of inherited wealth; universal franchise and democracy and occupational associations

Unlike Marx and Weber, both of whom held Modernity’s defects inerradicable