Durkheim - The Causes

Durkheim postulates that the segmentary (mechanical solidarity) structure must be eliminated, to some degree at the very least, for the organized structure "to appear". The greater the degree of organization, the greater the individuality. And, logically, the epidermis of each segment found in the mechanical environment is neutralized and breaks down inexorably as organization becomes dominant. Durkheim stated that as "partitions" between segments in a mechanical solidarity environment are penetrated, organic solidarity begins to develop and take over. Essentially, social contracts, dictated by the division of labor's resultant interdependence, predominate. Social, psychological, emotional, and physical movements between and toward organically-oriented individuals occurs, and of course, as Durkheim stated, reciprocity to meet needs in the aforementioned domains is a consequential, driving force that helps sustain these relationships. Durkheim claims that each individual is found within a system with like-participants (i.e. with individualized qualities) along the specialized, professional dimension; a member of a unique "alveolar system"; and it is within this specialized system are intra-social relationships. This fits quite well within the organic solidarity structure promulgated by Durkheim. Each individual's connectivity between alveolar systems is plausible and occurs for each individual becoming more and more organically integrated. This in turn generates a more integrated division of labor. It appears these two variables have a mutually reinforcing nature. Of course, Durkheim reinforced the dynamic quality of this social structure.

Durkheim posited the deep relationship between moral and physical density; the latter can be utilized to measure the former and the former unable to increase without a corresponding increase in the latter. "They are inseparable." In this vein, towns and cities are able to grow via a desire to merge together as humans, to seek greater interdependence, reciprocal relationships, and social contracts. Social contracts are characterized by, among other aspects, standards of behavior, discourse, and obligations mostly of a prescriptive nature inherent to professions and corollary relationships that stem from the integrative and quality of the organized division of labor.

Organic societies have characteristically greater physical density than mechanical. Towns do not exist in the segmentary dimension, also quite logically so. The fact that towns have become cities, cities metropolises, metropolises megalopolises, might in itself reveal or lend credibility to Durkheim's contention that humans gravitate to one another within the context of organizational growth for moral reasoning. Perhaps not, given the fact that there exists not a pure organic environment. Instead, it is advanced at this point that it may simply be for employment. However, in general, with employment in a more highly populated area comes greater access to goods and services related to modernity. Given the potential for these to go hand-in-hand, the outgrowths of individualization and interdependency may come readily, and therefore, if morality is consistent with these variables, an increase in this variable as well.



Durkheim touches on communication, citing that as population density increases, so do the means and number of communications. With the advent of the world wide web, population density becomes irrelevant. However, the Internet does not in terms of furthering the breadth of communication, and therefore, increasing the connections between humans, engendering an increased interdependency between humans. This means of communication, and intra-relationship development, along with other electronic instruments, is a facet of an organic society. It, along with other variables, increases the density of, in this case, world-society, and this includes moral density. Make no mistake about it, there seems to be some substance to this observation. The division of labor begets scientific knowledge and the computer's essence is a contemporary example of this. This invention was obviously accompanied discoveries, essential to its development. The implicit endeavors associated with this invention encompass a multitude of specializations beyond this writer's immediate count. The resultant endeavors beyond the more immediate include a myriad of interdependent and intra-relational encounters (i.e. obviously in an organic society these are more than encounters) that as time goes by may be categorized as infinitesimal. In the end, Durkheim stipulates all are governed by a morality based in social contracts. This morality is greater than displayed in mechanical societies. Given the fluid nature of this entire scenario, in theory it is manageable; de facto, it is much harder to measure or "take a snapshot" in time to evaluate its ascension.

Durkheim maintains social volume (number of individuals) and population density influence the diviison of labor in like manner.