Durkheim’s key idea is to analyze how modern societies could maintain social integration after the role of traditional meaning-making institutions and social bonds of church, community and family have been changed and diminished by modern economic relations. To start with define social integration (broad, general definition), state that there are two types and that each corresponds to different time period and different mode of economic and social organization of human society.
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Explain how Durkheim has theorized the shift from pre-modern to modern society in terms of social cohesion (social solidarity, social integration, social cohesion are all synonyms, by the way! They all mean the same thing!).
introduce and define mechanical solidarity. Provide your own example.
Introduce and define organic solidarity. Provide your own example
Explain why ‘anomie’ or what Durkheim refers to as the disintegration of society due to the breakdown of traditional institutions is the by product of modernity. Can you think of examples/sign of growing anomie in today’s society?
How do modern individuals strive to overcome anomie & create more meaningful existence?
