Preview

Emile Durkheim--Individualism and the Intellectuals

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
372 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Emile Durkheim--Individualism and the Intellectuals
Individualism and the Intellectuals
1. How does Durkheim see the relationship of the individual to society?
Durkheim sees the relationship of the individual to the society in a rather complex way. Durkheim believes that we are all cognitive beings that have unique, individual qualities that make us different. These differences set us apart inside of the society, yet, we all play a key role in it. We all share a bond together whether it be one of social solidarity, common consciousness, or system of law. The two parts to this question can be summed up with the role of the individual and the concept of the society. Individuals as stated by Durkheim have their own cognitive ability, they have thoughts, influences, desires and so many things that set them apart, however, the true relationship comes from the role of society. Durkeheim sees society as a thing rather than a place or a concept. It has an existence of its own, apart from the individuals within it. The molding of the individual, the thoughts of the people, the styles, trends, and basic life of the individual is molded and shaped by the society. This is what Durkheim found fascinating, the effect of the society on the individual and the complex role that the individuals have in guiding the society. The relationship of the individual to the society can be summed up by saying that the individuals guide then society, however, the society molds the individuals within it, guiding the moral compasses of the individuals as well as the thoughts, trends, and behaviors.
2. Why is this question relevant?
This question is relevant today because the same concept of society and the relationship between the individuals within it is still something that is constantly being dealt with and thought about. Durkheims philosophy is a key staple in modern sociology because this relationship is still pertinent. The role of the individuals on society is still key because it seems that society is shaping people rather than people
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Using Material from Item a and Elsewhere Assess the Usefulness of Modernization Theory as an Explanation for Differences in the Levels of Development of Different Societies.
    • 757 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Using Material from Item a and Elsewhere Assess the Usefulness of Modernization Theory as an Explanation for Differences in the Levels of Development of Different Societies.

    Durkheim believed that society will evolve until it reaches modernity but thinks that sharing traditional values and beliefs won’t lead to a modern state. Along with Tonnies and Huntington, Durkheim believes that in order to evolve, poorer and developing counties have to replace community with individualism. They believe in cultural imperialism and that the only way to modernize these countries is through democracy and capitalism.…

    • 757 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    What Aspects of Modernity Most Worried Durkheim?
    • 1548 Words
    • 7 Pages

    What Aspects of Modernity Most Worried Durkheim?

    Emile Durkheim was a key sociological thinker of the 19th century. He was one of the first people to try and explain and understand society as a whole by looking at all the different parts of society. He studied the ways in which society was held together through moral and social bonds. This came to be known as ‘functionalism’. It was a word used to describe a complicated system in which different pieces fit together to form a stable and structured society.…

    • 1548 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    What Aspects of Modernity Most Worried Durkheim?
    • 1696 Words
    • 7 Pages

    What Aspects of Modernity Most Worried Durkheim?

    Durkheim lived from 1858 – 1917, and was a key actor both in the foundation of sociology, social science and, as is contextually synonymous, in the…

    • 1696 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Durkheimian Theories Applied to Buffalo Creek
    • 1974 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Durkheimian Theories Applied to Buffalo Creek

    In Durkheim’s concept of social/moral regulation, society imposes limits on humans to regulate their passions, desires, expectations, ambitions and roles. When these limits or social regulations break down, the…

    • 1974 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    assess the usefulness of different sociological approaches to suicide
    • 1624 Words
    • 5 Pages

    assess the usefulness of different sociological approaches to suicide

    Durkheim’s (1897) argument is extremely outdated, being almost 120 years old. This means that some of his views aren’t applicable to today’s society - his ideas were based on pre-industrial societies where people often lived in extended or nuclear families, whereas today’s society is based on modern industrial society where not many people continue to live in nuclear families anymore. He argues that our behaviour is caused by social facts such as social integration and moral regulation and that the suicide rate is also a social fact. He…

    • 1624 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Assess The Functionalist View That Religion Benefits Both Society As A Whole And Its Individual Members
    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Assess The Functionalist View That Religion Benefits Both Society As A Whole And Its Individual Members

    Durkheim's views are more appropriate for small, non-literate, mono cultural societies with close integration. His views are less relevant to modern societies, which have many subcultures and ethnic…

    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Criminological theories - Durkheim, Beccaria, Lombroso
    • 1936 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Criminological theories - Durkheim, Beccaria, Lombroso

    Durkheim: Thank you, and welcome. The reason we are here today is that many social changes are currently observed in the today 's society (Dunman 2003). The industrialisation and modernisation of society has the tendency to free people of their restraints (Vold et al 2002, pp.100). Traditional or organic societies directed people to control their desires and ambitions, however as a positivist I believe that modern (mechanic) societies 'separate people and weaken social bonds as a result of the increased complexity and the division of labour '. This is evident in modern society further divided by beaucracy and specialisation in the workforce (Vold et al 2002, p.102). All these changes of the traditional society expose it to lack of regulation,…

    • 1936 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Best Essays

    Sociology and Deviance: in a Society of Saints Crime Will Be Found Discuss
    • 2133 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Sociology and Deviance: in a Society of Saints Crime Will Be Found Discuss

    Bibliography: 1. Bellah, Robert N. 1973. Emile Durkheim: On Morality and Society, Selected Writings. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.…

    • 2133 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Best Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    How Does Durkheim Create Anomie
    • 1893 Words
    • 8 Pages

    How Does Durkheim Create Anomie

    He has often been accused of having anoverly anti-individualistic philosophy, one that is mainly concerned with the taming of individual impulse and the harnessing of the energies of individuals for the purposes of society. Although it cannot be denied that there are such tendencies in his work, Durkheim's treatmen tof altruistic suicide indicates that he was trying to establish a balance between the claims of individuals and those of society, ratherthan to suppress individual strivings. Acutely aware of the dangers ofthe breakdown of social order, he also realized that total control of component social actors by society would be as detrimental as anomie andde-regulation. Throughout his life he attempted to establish a balance between societal and individual…

    • 1893 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Assess the Functionalist Explanation of the Role of Education in Modern Society.
    • 265 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Assess the Functionalist Explanation of the Role of Education in Modern Society.

    For Durkheim (french sociologist), the process of education was to be understood in terms of its contribution to the maintenance of the social order. He saw the major function as the transmission of society's norms and values. He was one of the major contributing sociologists putting forward new ideas and establishing many themes which continue to be immensely important in influencing modern sociology. Durkheim believes that social solidarity is vital - a unitation of individuals creating an all round feeling of commitment and a sense of belonging to society as a whole. He believes that in particular the teaching of history links the individual to their society and if this happens they will become more aware of the fact that they are involved in something larger than themselves and will therefore develop a sense of commitment to their social group. He sees the school as carrying out a function that the family or peer group are unable to provide, this involves interaction and cooperation with others in which Durkheim compares school as society in miniature - a model of the social…

    • 265 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Three Founding Fathers
    • 886 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Three Founding Fathers

    David Emile Durkheim was a French theorist who wanted to create an ideal of sociology based on the idea that society is an unbiased and limiting material reality, independent to the individual. According to Durkheim, the division of labor is basically a significant source of social solidarity dating back to the foundation of life that links together and affects civil, economic, educational, and legal processes. This new…

    • 886 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Assess The Contribution Of Functionalism To Our Understanding Of Society
    • 1172 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Assess The Contribution Of Functionalism To Our Understanding Of Society

    His aim of his research was to establish causal explanations of social behaviour and the functions of social facts also know as causes and effects. He thought social facts, collective ways of acting that exist outside of individuals, could exert obligations on individuals, determining their actions. Examples of Durkheim’s work include his study on suicide, functional analysis of the division of labour which he argues can be seen within the education system, School creates a social division of labor, it gives certain pupils certain skills to get certain jobs, it does this by offering both academic and vocational courses at various levels which require different skills and talents, this contributes to value consensus as it ensures that everybody is working and all types of jobs are fulfilled in society so people are able to support their families but most importantly keeping the economy…

    • 1172 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Outline some of the functions the education system might perform.
    • 344 Words
    • 1 Page

    Outline some of the functions the education system might perform.

    One of Durkheim’s main functions was ‘social solidarity.’ Social solidarity means ‘social unity’ what’s meant by this is that society should have a sense of solidarity. Individual members must feel themselves to become a part of a community. Durkheim believes that the education system helps to creates social solidarity by transmitting society’s culture. He believes the education system does this by teaching children about a country’s history, he believes this instils in children a sense of a shared heritage and a commitment to the wider social group. Durkheim believes that social solidarity is good because he believes that it creates a stronger society, knowing about the different norms and values that are considered vital in society.…

    • 344 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Assess The Contribution Of Functionalism To Our Understanding Of Society
    • 1381 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Assess The Contribution Of Functionalism To Our Understanding Of Society

    There are two sides to crime and deviance that help with the functioning of society. Firstly the positive side, this helped society change and remain dynamic. Durkheim believed a certain amount of crime was necessary for any society, (shared norms and values were important). This includes guiding our actions. There are three elements of the positive aspects, including reaffirming the boundaries; this re-affirms social norms and values, for example, people are taken into prison and sent to court for things that are considered breaking the law, in some cultures and religions this is taken to extremes with the use of capital punishment, to use them as an example to other…

    • 1381 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Functionalist View of Society
    • 590 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Functionalist View of Society

    The functionalist perspective is embedded in the work of Emile Durkheim (1858-1917). It gives us the view of society as an organism in which each part functions in a certain way to ensure the stability of the whole. "Durkheim explained that society was held together by a…

    • 590 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics