Durkheim Flashcards
(10 cards)
What is Durkheim’s main argument in Chapter 2?
Durkheim argues that the division of labour is not just economic—it has a moral function. It produces social solidarity, essential for maintaining social order in complex societies.
What are the two types of social solidarity?
Mechanical solidarity – based on similarity and shared values, typical of traditional societies.
Organic solidarity – based on functional interdependence, typical of modern, industrial societies.
What type of law corresponds to mechanical solidarity?
Repressive law, which punishes deviation from the collective conscience.
📌 Found in small, traditional societies where norms are uniform and violations are seen as moral threats.
What type of law corresponds to organic solidarity?
Restitutive law, which focuses on repairing harm and restoring balance (e.g. contracts, civil law).
📌 Found in modern societies where different roles and specialisations require cooperation.
How does Durkheim use law as a sociological tool?
Law reflects the dominant form of solidarity. By analysing legal codes, we can measure moral cohesion in a society.
How does the division of labour affect morality?
Durkheim argues that morality evolves with society. As labour becomes more specialised, so do moral norms, which are shaped by new interdependencies and roles.
What metaphor does Durkheim use for sociology?
He compares the sociologist to a physician, diagnosing the “moral health” of society. The division of labour is like a natural phenomenon, with both normal and pathological forms.
What is a “pathological” division of labour?
When the division of labour doesn’t produce solidarity—e.g. in cases of anomie (normlessness) or forced labour—it becomes a dysfunction rather than a cohesive force.
What critiques are made of Durkheim’s theory?
The mechanical/organic binary is too simplistic—modern societies also rely on shared values (e.g. nationalism).
His legal analysis may not fully reflect deeper moral realities.
His reliance on weak ethnographic data and Western universalism limits his generalisability.
What is the broader takeaway?
Durkheim redefines how we understand social order: not just through consensus, but through functional relationships created by modern economic and institutional complexity.
