Marx vs. durkheim views essay sample

Sociology

Despite the fact that Durkheim was a contemporary of Weber, his contribution to the development of division of labor was different. Both the two theorists were referred to as conflict thinkers. They both believed that any given social order entailed regulation of divergent interests, and, this resulted to divergence of opinions between individuals and groups of people in the society. Durkheim strategy was one described as functionalism which entails the study on the social objects and actors in the society. Durkheim believed that the society is defined by harmony and not disagreement. He identifies the social phenomena in relation to their role in enhancing social solidity. He investigates the aspect of development of division of labor from this perspective. On the other hand, Marx argued on the perspective of rationality while Durkheim was purely concerned with solidarity (Gragun, 2008).
In division of labor, both Marx and Durkheim had a common stand that those objective situations transforms directly into prejudiced perceptions, but projected different divergent objective situations. Factors for example urbanization, economic expansion, populace increase need trained and educated workforce hence increasing the number of employees in the middle class and thinning the extremes (Edles, 2010).
Marx, who was one of the most profound individuals of the Victorian era, was generally considered to be anti-cultural theorist. Marx believed that the real engine of the society was the style of production which provided the material needs of the society. He identified that the key sphere of production lies on of private tenure as mode of production and structures related to production that anchored on exploitation of productive labor. Emerging from these was the wider social system structured around class stratification (Gragun, 2008). According to Marx, this divided the society into owners and workers hence the development of division of labor in the society. He says history relies on life of mankind, who generate subsistence , and the resultant means of production establishes the culture of the society. The economy which determines production will lead division of labor in the society. Marx further argues that the societal superstructure is established through well structured economic base. The economic base is responsible for the division of labor which the source of difference between individuals and groups in the society. Marx argues that that it is through the division of labor that some individuals in the society benefit and exploits the less fortunate members of the society. He says that when division of labor is abolished in the community, then individuals are free to make their own choices and follow their own interests (Edles, 2010) . Marx blames the society for the ills experienced in the societal level.
On the other side, Durkheim differs with Marx’s position on the issue of economy and believes that economy is a contributing factor towards a stable society. He argued that the society is characterized and held by attitudes of solidarity. These contributed greatly to the welfare of the society by ensuring that the continued existence of smooth operating on well coordinated society and defined by the element of division of labor. He argued that the traditional industrial communities under mechanical solidarity thought alike as they perform there duties. The mechanical solidarity leads to conformity according to norms. Durkheim argued that ethics, attitudes, and social behaviors can be categorized as social facts which are connected to other objective characteristics like social stratification, societal differentiation, and social change which lead to division of labor (Edles, 2010).

References

Edles, L &Scott, A. (2010). Sociological Theory in the Contemporary Era: Text and Readings.
Cambridge: Pine Forge Press.
Gragun, D. (2008). Introduction to Sociology. New York, NY: Seven Treasures Publications.