The Division of Labour in Society
Encyclopedia
The Division of Labor in Society is the dissertation of French sociologist Émile Durkheim
, written in 1893. It was influential in advancing sociological
theories and thought, with ideas which in turn were influenced by Auguste Comte
. Durkheim described how social order
was maintained in societies based on two very different forms of solidarity (mechanical and organic), and the transition from more "primitive" societies to advanced industrial
societies.
Durkheim suggested that in a "primitive" society, mechanical solidarity, with people acting and thinking alike and with a collective or common conscience
, is what allows social order to be maintained. In such a society, Durkheim viewed crime
as an act that "offends strong and defined states of the collective conscience." Because social ties were relatively homogeneous and weak throughout society, the law had to be repressive and penal
, to respond to offences of the common conscience.
In an advanced, industrial, capitalist
society, the complex division of labor means that people are allocated in society according to merit
and rewarded accordingly: social inequality reflects natural inequality. Durkheim argued that moral
regulation was needed, as well as economic regulation, to maintain order
(or organic solidarity) in society with people able to "compose their differences peaceably". In this type of society, law would be more restitory
than penal, seeking to restore rather than punish excessively.
He thought that transition of a society from "primitive" to advanced may bring about major disorder
, crisis
, and anomie
. However, once society has reached the "advanced" stage, it becomes much stronger and is done developing. Unlike Karl Marx
, Durkheim did not foresee any different society arising out of the industrial capitalist division of labour. He regards conflict, chaos, and disorder as pathological phenomena to modern society, whereas Marx highlights class conflict
.
BOOK I THE FUNCTION OF THE DIVISION OF LABOR
Chapter I: The Method of Determining This Function
Chapter II: Mechanical Solidarity, Or Solidarity by Similarities
Chapter III: Solidarity Arising From the Division Of Labor, or Organic Solidarity
Chapter IV: Another Proof of the Preceding Theory
Chapter V: The Increasing Preponderance of Organic Solidarity and Its Consequences
Chapter VI: The Increasing Preponderance of Organic Solidarity and Its Consequences (cont.)
Chapter VII: Organic Solidarity And Contractual Solidarity
BOOK II THE CAUSES AND CONDITIONS
Chapter I: The Progress of the Division of Labor and Of Happiness
Chapter II: The Causes
Chapter III: Secondary Factors
Chapter IV: Secondary Factors (cont.)
Chapter V: Consequences of the Foregoing
BOOK III THE ABNORMAL FORMS
Chapter I: The Anomic Division of Labor
Chapter II: The Forced Division of Labor
Chapter III: Another Abnormal Form
Émile Durkheim
David Émile Durkheim was a French sociologist. He formally established the academic discipline and, with Karl Marx and Max Weber, is commonly cited as the principal architect of modern social science and father of sociology.Much of Durkheim's work was concerned with how societies could maintain...
, written in 1893. It was influential in advancing sociological
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
theories and thought, with ideas which in turn were influenced by Auguste Comte
Auguste Comte
Isidore Auguste Marie François Xavier Comte , better known as Auguste Comte , was a French philosopher, a founder of the discipline of sociology and of the doctrine of positivism...
. Durkheim described how social order
Social order
Social order is a concept used in sociology, history and other social sciences. It refers to a set of linked social structures, social institutions and social practices which conserve, maintain and enforce "normal" ways of relating and behaving....
was maintained in societies based on two very different forms of solidarity (mechanical and organic), and the transition from more "primitive" societies to advanced industrial
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
societies.
Durkheim suggested that in a "primitive" society, mechanical solidarity, with people acting and thinking alike and with a collective or common conscience
Conscience
Conscience is an aptitude, faculty, intuition or judgment of the intellect that distinguishes right from wrong. Moral judgement may derive from values or norms...
, is what allows social order to be maintained. In such a society, Durkheim viewed crime
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
as an act that "offends strong and defined states of the collective conscience." Because social ties were relatively homogeneous and weak throughout society, the law had to be repressive and penal
Penal
Peneral is a town in south Trinidad. It lies south of San Fernando and Debe, and north of Siparia. Originally a rice and cocoa producing area, Penal has grown into an important town in the past few years and is now a desirable place for corporate expansion...
, to respond to offences of the common conscience.
In an advanced, industrial, capitalist
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
society, the complex division of labor means that people are allocated in society according to merit
Merit
The term merit constitutes a desirable trait or ability belonging to a person or an object.It may refer to:* Merit * Merit * Meritocracymerit may also mean:...
and rewarded accordingly: social inequality reflects natural inequality. Durkheim argued that moral
Morality
Morality is the differentiation among intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good and bad . A moral code is a system of morality and a moral is any one practice or teaching within a moral code...
regulation was needed, as well as economic regulation, to maintain order
Social order
Social order is a concept used in sociology, history and other social sciences. It refers to a set of linked social structures, social institutions and social practices which conserve, maintain and enforce "normal" ways of relating and behaving....
(or organic solidarity) in society with people able to "compose their differences peaceably". In this type of society, law would be more restitory
Restitution
The law of restitution is the law of gains-based recovery. It is to be contrasted with the law of compensation, which is the law of loss-based recovery. Obligations to make restitution and obligations to pay compensation are each a type of legal response to events in the real world. When a court...
than penal, seeking to restore rather than punish excessively.
He thought that transition of a society from "primitive" to advanced may bring about major disorder
Civil disorder
Civil disorder, also known as civil unrest or civil strife, is a broad term that is typically used by law enforcement to describe one or more forms of disturbance caused by a group of people. Civil disturbance is typically a symptom of, and a form of protest against, major socio-political problems;...
, crisis
Crisis
A crisis is any event that is, or expected to lead to, an unstable and dangerous situation affecting an individual, group, community or whole society...
, and anomie
Anomie
Anomie is a term meaning "without Law" to describe a lack of social norms; "normlessness". It describes the breakdown of social bonds between an individual and their community ties, with fragmentation of social identity and rejection of self-regulatory values. It was popularized by French...
. However, once society has reached the "advanced" stage, it becomes much stronger and is done developing. Unlike Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
, Durkheim did not foresee any different society arising out of the industrial capitalist division of labour. He regards conflict, chaos, and disorder as pathological phenomena to modern society, whereas Marx highlights class conflict
Class conflict
Class conflict is the tension or antagonism which exists in society due to competing socioeconomic interests between people of different classes....
.
Contents
IntroductionBOOK I THE FUNCTION OF THE DIVISION OF LABOR
Chapter I: The Method of Determining This Function
Chapter II: Mechanical Solidarity, Or Solidarity by Similarities
Chapter III: Solidarity Arising From the Division Of Labor, or Organic Solidarity
Chapter IV: Another Proof of the Preceding Theory
Chapter V: The Increasing Preponderance of Organic Solidarity and Its Consequences
Chapter VI: The Increasing Preponderance of Organic Solidarity and Its Consequences (cont.)
Chapter VII: Organic Solidarity And Contractual Solidarity
BOOK II THE CAUSES AND CONDITIONS
Chapter I: The Progress of the Division of Labor and Of Happiness
Chapter II: The Causes
Chapter III: Secondary Factors
Chapter IV: Secondary Factors (cont.)
Chapter V: Consequences of the Foregoing
BOOK III THE ABNORMAL FORMS
Chapter I: The Anomic Division of Labor
Chapter II: The Forced Division of Labor
Chapter III: Another Abnormal Form
See also
- Rules of the Sociological MethodRules of the Sociological MethodThe Rules of Sociological Method is a book by Émile Durkheim, first published in 1895. It is recognized as being the direct result of Durkheim's own project of establishing sociology as a positivist social science. Durkheim is seen as one of the fathers of sociology, and this work, his manifesto...
(1895) - SuicideSuicide (book)Suicide was one of the groundbreaking books in the field of sociology. Written by French sociologist Émile Durkheim and published in 1897 it was a case study of suicide, a publication unique for its time which provided an example of what the sociological...
(1897) - The Elementary Forms of Religious Life (1912)
External links
- De la division du travail social : étude sur l'organisation des sociétés supérieures (1893) - French version in the Internet Archive
- French edition full text download