Page 104 - DSOC401_SOCIOLOGICAL_THOUGHT_ENGLISH

Sociological Thought

notes solidarity which has been mentioned by him can be seen not only in primitive societies but
also in modern societies.
6. Durkheim’s concept of “group consciousness” has also been criticized. Group consciousness
is developed from general feelings, thoughts and harmony prevalent in the society. Group
consciousness may be called the synonym of group heart, which is a psychiatric phenomenon,
but Durkheim considers it social but source of its creation is social. In this manner Durkheim
has shown the stubbornness of making a psychiatric phenomenon a sociological one.
7. Durkheim has explained social evolution on the basis of division of labour. Maturin has
criticized his concept of social evolution also. Durkheim places primitive societies at one
end of evolution and modern societies at the other end. In this way he has done a linear
description of evolution. By telling only division of labour as the cause of social evolution,
Durkheim has made a very easy description of a very complex problem.
8. maturin, Ginsberg, bogards, sorokin etc., have criticized reasons of division of labour
presented by Durkheim. Durkheim has considered the primary cause of division of labour
to be an increase in size and density of population which is a biological description and
not a sociological one. In the words of Banairs, “clearly it is in comparison to sociological,
a biological description(of division of labour)” bogards and Ginsberg have also criticized
Durkheim on this basis only.
9. Durkheim has clearly explained the consequences of division of labour. He has considered
culture and progress as the result of division of labour, but he has tangled the causes and
consequences. It is not easy to determine that those consequences that Durkheim has pointed
towards, division of labour itself Is their basis.
10. maturin and banairs have criticized Durkheim’s method. Their view is that Durkheim,
in study of division of labour and social solidarity, made an arbitrary use of methods of
physical science. Durkheim did not establish a reliable relation in law and various types of
solidarities.
11. sorokin, maturin etc., scholars have criticized Durkheim’s collectivist view. Durkheim in
this book of his, has tried to prove from the beginning till the end that society builds a man, it
is the base of his life. Person is nothing before the society. In this manner, Durkheim became
an extremist in giving importance to society in comparison to a person.
12. Scholars like maturin etc., Do not consider the difference given by Durkheim between
individual and social ethics also to be clear. Ethics are ethics. Individual and personal cannot
be its two types. Ethical behavior towards a person is expressing ethical behavior towards
the society.
Despite of the above given criticisms, we will have to accept this fact that Durkheim in this book has
given birth to many sociological concepts and in sociological literature it is his invaluable treasure. At
the end we must say in the words of George simpson that, “that person’s first great creation which for
almost one-fourth century controlled French thoughts and whose impact even now is increasing, in
comparison to decreasing, form the view of history and context is even today such a book which should
be read by all those who have an interest in knowledge of social thoughts and social problems.”

self assessment
fill in the blanks—
4. .................. has developed the concept of social solidarity in this book, but solidarity is an
emotional fact and not sociological.
5. Durkheim, by presenting a .................. description of division of labour, has given a new
direction to social study.
6. .................. has criticized Durkheim on the basis that he has called societies with mechanical
solidarity as pieced societies also which in itself of a complete discreet society.

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