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National Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development ISSN: 2455-9040 Impact Factor: RJIF 5.22 www.nationaljournals.com Volume 2; Issue 3; September 2017; Page No. 580-585 Essay on Durkheim’s theory of division of labour 1 Ajay Kumar Gautam, 2 Neha Yadav 1 Research Scholar, Centre for Studies of Law and Governance, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India 2 Research Scholar, Centre for Social Medicine & Community Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India Abstract Emile Durkheim is pre-eminently known for instituting a social theory which views sociology as a natural science subject to empirical study. His seminal research on labour, The Division of Labour in society, uses a comparative method to explain the morphological changes in labour in preindustrial and post-industrial societies. Durkheim categorised labour in primitive societies as mechanical solidarity for its homogenous nature, and its industrial counterpart as organic solidarity, suggesting its heterogeneous nature. Division of labour has a significant role to perform in the society since it does not depend on the establishment of economic services only but also generates harmony between people. Anomie has contributed to chaos in the social life and society is conscious of it and when society revitalises it results in social reconstruction. A foremost theme in all Durkheim’s writings is the importance of collective social norms and values in preserving social cohesion and solidarity. He argued that the nature of this social solidarity depends on the extent of the division of labour. Keywords: division of labour, mechanical solidarity, organic solidarity, anomie, social fact 1. Introduction 3. It reinforces the faith of the collectivism on the power of Durkheim was deeply concerned with the impact of the large- society doing right thing in the right place at right time scale structure of society, and society itself, on the thoughts 4. Finally, the presence of law never does mean an end to and action of individuals. His works, as interpreted by Talcott crime. Instead, enforcement of the law is a voluntary Parsons and others, was most influential in shaping structural- reaction of society to the action of the offender. functional theory, with its emphasis on social structure and Thus, in conclusion, the spirit of law inherently motivates culture. On the intellectual front, a large body of scholars have people to internalise, accept to the command of society, given insight into the study of society, most significantly, considering them as moral. Therefore, the law is a stimulation Fustel de Coulanges – teacher of Emile Durkheim, had a large to promote integration between individual and collective intellectual influence on Emile Durkheim sociological consciousness. Thus, a collective correlation is present thinking. He advocated that animal societies are mechanically between the function of law and the goal of a division of integrated, and human societies are integrated by ideas. This labour in society. explanation offered directive to Durkheim to conclude how conscience collective (collective ideas) do influence 2. Theory of division of labour individual motives, giving rise to regularity and continuity in Division of labour is a sociological question addressed by social life. In Durkheim sociology, one notices the enormous Emile Durkheim for various reasons. Firstly, he has witnessed influence of Simon, Rousseau and August Comte [1]. All of a drastic transformation in the social life of France, where the them profoundly agree that when general will prevail the gulf monarchy has crumbled, a new middle class has made its between individual desire and the collective institution is appearance controlling the state apparatus, and the bourgeoisie entirely integrated. Therefore, integration, harmony, and trust has created presence inducing control over education. In are the essential precondition for the continuity of social life. France, a large section of society has given conformity to the One can find out the presence of influence of J.S. Mill and his traditional pattern of governance, and a part of intellectuals theory of ‘Concomitant Variation’ is offering a was also offering support to the call of the revivalist. Thus, the methodological tool to Durkheim to explain ‘dynamic density’ entire society was polarised into two groups, one standing in to understand the ‘social solidarity’. The Montesquieu ideas of favour of change and others in search of revivalism. ‘spirit of the law’ canter around with his explanation of ‘social Behind everything visible, there is something invisible. The solidarity’ [2]. Being influenced by Montesquieu’s theory of concern of sociology is to establish negation between the two; spirit of the laws [3] Durkheim asserts that the structure of law it is the foundation of Durkheim’s thinking. He asserts, may be different, but its function stands universally similar. terminologically speaking, a division of labour means the The principal role of law includes: hierarchical gradation of occupation, which is concrete and 1. It controls and neutralise the negative solidarity visible. But occupational gradation present in given society is 2. It repairs injuries inflicted on conscience collective guided by, the size of a population, nature of the needs of the through the action of violators individual, role of community, functions of institution present 580 National Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development in society, role of law and so on. Therefore, the division of Durkheim is not too comfortable with the writing of Hobbes labour cannot be studied in isolation to a mode of production, and Locke. In their theory of individualism Machiavelli, the rule of law, and every possible form of division of labour Hobbes and Locke strongly assert that state; the government is guided by a given pattern of social interrelationship which are the conscious creation of individual for the promotion of cannot be wishfully ignored. Thus, a single variable such as individual happiness. In their ‘social contract theory’, Hobbes demographic, technological, institutional cannot be considered and Locke [4] advocate that how rational man evaluating his as adequate cause to explain the division of labour in society. benefits developed negotiation with the fellow being, from out Therefore, he advocates that division of work is a social fact of which grew; clan, tribe, confederation and consequently which should be understood by casual analysis method, state. Therefore, a social organisation in particular and reduction analysis method, comparative method. societies, in general, are the conscious creation of individual desire and motives. 3. Durkheim’s optimistic view of division of labour Durkheim prefers the ideas of L. Hobhouse and Rousseau [1] Durkheim’s division of labour is influenced by positivistic who advocate that man in search of freedom accept methodology explaining functional integration in society. enslavement or when a man is driven by self -love, he thinks Thus, sociologically speaking, the division of labour about himself, but when he is motivated by sympathy, he establishes a balance between positivism and functionalism in established interconnectivity between individual desire and society. While discussing the division of labour, Durkheim collective happiness. Collective happiness can contribute to considers the notion of individual action. He believed that the personal satisfaction. Thus, the man instead of being action of man is expressive and when his action is governed utilitarian reposes his faith in the wisdom of collectively. by collective well- being, it gives rise to normalcy, and when Therefore, individual desire and collective will positively individual action is driven by pathological stimulation, i.e. correspond to each other, and that is the essence of the self-centric & utilitarian, it gives rise to the growth of division of labour in society. It drives the point back home abnormal, unwanted morbid element in social life. Thus, in that division of labour is not an explanation of a shift from a every social institution, there are healthy and pathological state of nature to state. It is rather how this shift moralise the elements, pathology Induce strain, it is undesirable but relationship between individual and society being the essence unavoidable. Every society tolerates to certain aspects of of the division of labour, a division of labour is social fact that pathological strain in routine and regularised manner. But in being a matter of political inquiry. most of the situation, normalcy prevails, where the firm desire of man fits into the conscious and the collective will of the 5. Division of labour- A social reality society promoting social solidarity. Thus, a division of labour Durkheim was primarily influenced by the writing of Tonnies, is a story of the structure of social life where there is a in his book ‘Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft’ Tonnies advocate presence of harmony, integration, accomplishment and that when there is a shift from community type of condition to continuity. society type of condition, people undergo through the spirit of strain, restlessness and maladjustment. However, these 4. Individualism vs Durkheim’s Sociology experiences are temporal. Thus, over a period, a new While discussing the division of labour, Emile Durkheim institution, new laws will moralise new form of relationships, intended to offer a critic from the standpoint of the utilitarian offer direction to the people
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