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In [[sociology]], "'''mechanical solidarity'''" and "'''organic solidarity'''"<ref>{{Cite book|title=Durkheim and the law|last=Steven|first=Lukes|last2=1946-|first2=Scull, Andrew|publisher=|year=2013|isbn=9781137031815|location=|pages=1|oclc=857109661|quote=}}</ref> are the concepts of [[solidarity]] as developed by [[Émile Durkheim]]. Durkheim introduced the terms "mechanical" and "organic solidarity" as part of his theory of the development of societies in ''[[The Division of Labour in Society]]'' (1893). According to Durkheim, the types of social solidarity correlate with types of society, which are mechanical and organic societies.
In [[sociology]], '''mechanical solidarity''' and '''organic solidarity'''<ref>{{Cite book|title=Durkheim and the law|last=Steven|first=Lukes|last2=1946-|first2=Scull, Andrew|publisher=|year=2013|isbn=9781137031815|location=|pages=1|oclc=857109661|quote=}}</ref> are the two types of [[solidarity|social solidarity]] that were formulated by [[Émile Durkheim]], introduced in his ''[[The Division of Labour in Society|Division of Labour in Society]]'' (1893) as part of his theory on the development of [[Society|societies]]. According to Durkheim, the type of solidarity will correlate with the type of society, either '''mechanical''' or '''organic society'''. The two types of solidarity can be distinguished by [[morphology (biology)|morphological]] and [[demography|demographic features]], type of [[Norm (sociology)|norms]] in existence, and the intensity and content of the [[Collective consciousness|''conscience collective'']].<ref name="dict2" />


In a society exhibiting mechanical solidarity, its cohesion and integration comes from the homogeneity of individuals—people feel connected through similar work, educational and religious training, and lifestyle. Mechanical solidarity normally operates in traditional and small-scale societies.<ref name="dict2">''Collins Dictionary of Sociology'', p405-6.</ref> In simpler societies (e.g., [[tribe|tribal]]), solidarity is usually based on [[kinship]] ties of familial networks.
In a society that exhibits ''mechanical solidarity'', its cohesion and integration comes from the [[Homogeneity and heterogeneity|homogeneity]] of individuals—people feel connected through similar work; educational and religious training; and lifestyle. Mechanical solidarity normally operates in [[Traditional society|traditional]] and [[Small-scale society|small-scale]] societies (e.g., [[tribe|tribes]]).<ref name="dict2">''Collins Dictionary of Sociology''. p. 405–06.</ref> In these simpler societies, solidarity is usually based on [[kinship]] ties of familial networks.


Organic solidarity comes from the interdependence that arises from specialization of work and the complementarities between people—a development which occurs in modern and industrial societies.<ref name="dict2" /> It is social cohesion based upon the dependence individuals have on each other in more advanced societies. Although individuals perform different tasks and often have different values and interests, the order and very solidarity of society depends on their reliance on each other to perform their specified tasks. Thus, social solidarity is maintained in more complex societies through the interdependence of its component parts (e.g., farmers produce the food to feed the factory workers who produce the tractors that allow the farmer to produce the food).
''Organic solidarity'' is a [[social cohesion]] based upon the [[interdependence]] that arises between people from the [[Specialization of labor|specialization of work]] and [[complementarianism]] as result of more advanced (i.e., [[Modern society|modern]] and [[Industrial society|industrial]]) societies.<ref name="dict2" /> Although individuals perform different tasks and often have different values and interests, the [[Social order|order]] and very solidarity of society depends on their reliance on each other to perform their specified tasks. Thus, social solidarity is maintained in more complex societies through the interdependence of its component parts. [[Farmer|Farmers]], for example, produce the food that feed the [[factory workers]] who produce the [[Tractor|tractors]] that allow the farmers to produce the food.

The two types of solidarity can be distinguished by [[morphology (biology)|morphological]] and [[demography|demographic features]], type of [[Norm (sociology)|norms]] in existence, and the intensity and content of the [[Collective consciousness|''conscience collective'']].<ref name="dict2"/>


== Features ==
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Mechanical vs. organic solidarity<ref name="dict3">''Collins Dictionary of Sociology'', p406 adapted from S. Lukes, ''Emile Durkheim: His life and Work'' (1973) London:Allen Lane</ref>
|+Mechanical vs. organic solidarity<ref name="dict3">Lukes, S. 1973. ''Emile Durkheim: His Life and Work''. London: [[Allen Lane]], as adapted by ''Collins Dictionary of Sociology'', p. 406.</ref>
! width="18%"|Feature
! width="18%" |Feature
! width="41%"|Mechanical solidarity
! width="41%" |
=== Mechanical solidarity ===
! width="41%"|Organic solidarity
! width="41%" |
=== Organic solidarity ===
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
!
! Morphological (structural) basis
==== Morphological (structural) basis ====
| Based on resemblances (predominant in less advanced societies) <br/> Segmental type (first clan-based, later territorial) <br/> Little interdependence (social bonds relatively weak) <br/> Relatively low volume of population <br/> Relatively low material and moral density
|
| Based on division of labor (predominately in more advanced societies) <br/> Organized type (fusion of markets and growth of cities) <br/> Much interdependency (social bonds relatively strong) <br/> Relatively high volume of population <br/> Relatively high material and moral density
* Based on resemblances (predominant in less-advanced societies)
* '''Segmental type''' (initially based on [[clan]], later [[Territory|territorial]])
* Little [[Systems theory|interdependence]] (social bonds relatively weak)
* Relatively low volume of [[population]]
* Relatively low material and moral density
|
* Based on [[Division of labour|division of labor]] (predominately in more advanced societies)
* '''Organized type''' (fusion of markets and growth of cities)
* Much interdependency (social bonds relatively strong)
* Relatively high volume of population
* Relatively high material and moral density
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
!
! Types of norms (typified by law)
==== Types of norms (typified by law) ====
| Rules with repressive sanctions <br/> Prevalence of penal law <br/>
|
| Rules with restitutive sanctions <br/> Prevalence of cooperative law (civil, commercial, procedural, administrative and constitutional law)
* Rules with [[Repression (psychology)|repressive]] [[Sanctions (law)|sanctions]]
* Prevalence of [[Penal Law|penal law]] <br />
|
* Rules with [[Restitution|restitutive]] sanctions
* Prevalence of cooperative law (i.e., [[Civil law (legal system)|civil]], [[Commercial law|commercial]], [[Procedural law|procedural]], [[Administrative law|administrative]], and [[Constitutional law|constitutional]] law)
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
!
⚫
! Formal features of conscience collective
⚫
==== Formal features of [[Collective consciousness|conscience collective]] ====
| High volume <br/> High intensity <br/> High determinateness <br/> Collective authority absolute
|
| Low volume <br/> Low intensity <br/> Low determinateness <br/> More room for individual initiative and reflection
* High volume
* High intensity
* High [[Property (philosophy)|determinateness]]
* Collective authority is absolute
|
* Low volume
* Low intensity
* Low determinateness
* Greater room for [[Individualism|individual]] initiative and reflection
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
!
⚫
! Content of [[Collective consciousness|''conscience collective'']]
⚫
==== Content of conscience collective ====
| Highly religious <br/> Transcendental (superior to human interests and beyond discussion) <br/> Attaching supreme value to society and interests of society as a whole <br/> Concrete and specific
|
⚫
| Increasingly secular <br/> Human-orientated (concerned with human interests and open to discussion) <br/> Attaching supreme value to individual dignity, equality of opportunity, work ethic and social justice <br/> Abstract and general
* Highly religious
* [[Transcendentalism|Transcendental]] (superior to human interests and beyond discussion)
* Attaching supreme value to society and interests of society as a whole
* Concrete and specific
|
* Increasingly secular
* Human-orientated (concerned with human interests and open to discussion)
⚫
* Attaching supreme value to individual [[dignity]], [[equality of opportunity]], [[work ethic]], and [[social justice]]
* Abstract and general
|}
|}


Revision as of 22:07, 2 July 2020

In sociology, mechanical solidarity and organic solidarity[1] are the two types of social solidarity that were formulated by Émile Durkheim, introduced in his Division of Labour in Society (1893) as part of his theory on the development of societies. According to Durkheim, the type of solidarity will correlate with the type of society, either mechanical or organic society. The two types of solidarity can be distinguished by morphological and demographic features, type of norms in existence, and the intensity and content of the conscience collective.[2]

In a society that exhibits mechanical solidarity, its cohesion and integration comes from the homogeneity of individuals—people feel connected through similar work; educational and religious training; and lifestyle. Mechanical solidarity normally operates in traditional and small-scale societies (e.g., tribes).[2] In these simpler societies, solidarity is usually based on kinship ties of familial networks.

Organic solidarity is a social cohesion based upon the interdependence that arises between people from the specialization of work and complementarianism as result of more advanced (i.e., modern and industrial) societies.[2] Although individuals perform different tasks and often have different values and interests, the order and very solidarity of society depends on their reliance on each other to perform their specified tasks. Thus, social solidarity is maintained in more complex societies through the interdependence of its component parts. Farmers, for example, produce the food that feed the factory workers who produce the tractors that allow the farmers to produce the food.

Features

Mechanical vs. organic solidarity[3]
Feature

Mechanical solidarity

Organic solidarity

Morphological (structural) basis
  • Based on resemblances (predominant in less-advanced societies)
  • Segmental type (initially based on clan, later territorial)
  • Little interdependence (social bonds relatively weak)
  • Relatively low volume of population
  • Relatively low material and moral density
  • Based on division of labor (predominately in more advanced societies)
  • Organized type (fusion of markets and growth of cities)
  • Much interdependency (social bonds relatively strong)
  • Relatively high volume of population
  • Relatively high material and moral density

Types of norms (typified by law)

Formal features of conscience collective
  • High volume
  • High intensity
  • High determinateness
  • Collective authority is absolute
  • Low volume
  • Low intensity
  • Low determinateness
  • Greater room for individual initiative and reflection

Content of conscience collective
  • Highly religious
  • Transcendental (superior to human interests and beyond discussion)
  • Attaching supreme value to society and interests of society as a whole
  • Concrete and specific

References

  1. ^ Steven, Lukes; 1946-, Scull, Andrew (2013). Durkheim and the law. p. 1. ISBN 9781137031815. OCLC 857109661. {{cite book}}: |last2= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b c Collins Dictionary of Sociology. p. 405–06.
  3. ^ Lukes, S. 1973. Emile Durkheim: His Life and Work. London: Allen Lane, as adapted by Collins Dictionary of Sociology, p. 406.
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