Tonnies & Durkheim
The impact of urban environments on individual experiences was a topic of interest amongst urban sociology theorists during early times. Two urban sociology theorists who decided to explore this topic were Ferdinand Tonnies and Emile Durkheim. Tonnies’ perspective of the impact of urban environments on individual experiences have been categorized to be pessimistic as opposed to Durkheim’s who have been categorized as optimistic. Nonetheless, both urban sociologists explored different experiences amongst individuals in an urban environment and split the experiences into two social formations. Tonnies distinguished these formations by Gemeinschaft or Gessellschaft while Durkheim distinguished social orders by Mechanical Solidarity or Organic Solidarity. (Tonnies, 1963)
Tonnies described a Gemeinschaft as a community that was socially controlled by a consensus of wills in relation to traditions, religion, folkways, and mores. It was agriculturally based where families had their own land or farms and grew their own crops. It was a community where everyone knew their neighbors and a sense of family was established. Gessellschaft was described as more of a society in the city area. Industrial and mass production was its way of politically organizing itself. Life was fast paced and everyone did not necessarily know each other. (Tonnies, 1963)
According to Tonnies, a Gemeinschaft community would impact the individual in a sense of allowing the person to grow. He emphasized the importance of feeling at peace where you live, unlike a Gessellschaft that can push an individual to feel lost. He stressed the impact of the tough transition from a Gemeinschaft community to a Gessellschaft society. This transition could overwhelm the individual in a sense that they would have to conform to the standards of the upper class. Tonnies argued that the individual might lose their sense of individuality because they would focus more on what the Gessellschaft society thinks about them, therefore, they would begin to adjust their way of life not necessarily because they want to but because it may have been the only way of life that is accepted.
Tonnies argued that the Gessellschaft community is somewhat rather “fake” in a sense that the only reason that anyone would try and form a bond with you is only to take care of business. The intentions of the population in a Gessellschaft community would only be a “society game” in which everyone would use each other just to get power. Everyone is anything but sincere. An individual coming from a Gemeinschaft community might be rather naïve to their intentions since, according to Tonnies, people in a Gemeinschaft community would not have bad intentions considering that the meaning of family was a strong foundation in their lives. Overall, Tonnies had a rather negative view of the Gessellschaft society and the impact that it may have on the individual experience.
Durkheim described Mechanical Solidarity, which is closely related to Tonnies’ Gemeinshcaft, as a community that consists of a population that shared common interests. People are attracted to specific communities due to certain traditions, religions, or anything that they feel they closely relate to. The individual experience can be positive as they will be surrounded by people who have a lot in common with them. The individual would gain a sense of community and family and would overall feel happy because they are surrounded by people who are similar to them. Durkheim also described Organic Solidarity, which is closely related to Tonnies’ Gessellschaft, as a community where the population is rather different from each other. However, Durkheim asserts that this can also be a positive individual experience as it keeps you with an open-minded way of thinking. Interacting with people that are different from you can allow the individual to become more knowledgeable in different areas. Exposure to different traditions and customs gives the individual a sense of experience. (Durkheim, 1893)
Durkheim emphasizes the positive role that both communities can play on the individual experience as it can either make you feel at home with individuals who share common interests with you or it can help expose you to a different way of life. Contrary to Tonnies’ perspective, she doesn’t view city life as a negative impact on the individual experience. Tonnies’ perspective is rather narrow-minded, it may be true in many ways because it is reality; however Durkheim focuses more on how the individual can grow from that experience. The individual learns how to work with individuals who are different from them and this allows them to grow in a sense of individuality.
The impact of urban environments on individual experiences was a topic of interest amongst urban sociology theorists during early times. Two urban sociology theorists who decided to explore this topic were Ferdinand Tonnies and Emile Durkheim. Tonnies’ perspective of the impact of urban environments on individual experiences have been categorized to be pessimistic as opposed to Durkheim’s who have been categorized as optimistic. Nonetheless, both urban sociologists explored different experiences amongst individuals in an urban environment and split the experiences into two social formations. Tonnies distinguished these formations by Gemeinschaft or Gessellschaft while Durkheim distinguished social orders by Mechanical Solidarity or Organic Solidarity. (Tonnies, 1963)
Tonnies described a Gemeinschaft as a community that was socially controlled by a consensus of wills in relation to traditions, religion, folkways, and mores. It was agriculturally based where families had their own land or farms and grew their own crops. It was a community where everyone knew their neighbors and a sense of family was established. Gessellschaft was described as more of a society in the city area. Industrial and mass production was its way of politically organizing itself. Life was fast paced and everyone did not necessarily know each other. (Tonnies, 1963)
According to Tonnies, a Gemeinschaft community would impact the individual in a sense of allowing the person to grow. He emphasized the importance of feeling at peace where you live, unlike a Gessellschaft that can push an individual to feel lost. He stressed the impact of the tough transition from a Gemeinschaft community to a Gessellschaft society. This transition could overwhelm the individual in a sense that they would have to conform to the standards of the upper class. Tonnies argued that the individual might lose their sense of individuality because they would focus more on what the Gessellschaft society thinks about them, therefore, they would begin to adjust their way of life not necessarily because they want to but because it may have been the only way of life that is accepted.
Tonnies argued that the Gessellschaft community is somewhat rather “fake” in a sense that the only reason that anyone would try and form a bond with you is only to take care of business. The intentions of the population in a Gessellschaft community would only be a “society game” in which everyone would use each other just to get power. Everyone is anything but sincere. An individual coming from a Gemeinschaft community might be rather naïve to their intentions since, according to Tonnies, people in a Gemeinschaft community would not have bad intentions considering that the meaning of family was a strong foundation in their lives. Overall, Tonnies had a rather negative view of the Gessellschaft society and the impact that it may have on the individual experience.
Durkheim described Mechanical Solidarity, which is closely related to Tonnies’ Gemeinshcaft, as a community that consists of a population that shared common interests. People are attracted to specific communities due to certain traditions, religions, or anything that they feel they closely relate to. The individual experience can be positive as they will be surrounded by people who have a lot in common with them. The individual would gain a sense of community and family and would overall feel happy because they are surrounded by people who are similar to them. Durkheim also described Organic Solidarity, which is closely related to Tonnies’ Gessellschaft, as a community where the population is rather different from each other. However, Durkheim asserts that this can also be a positive individual experience as it keeps you with an open-minded way of thinking. Interacting with people that are different from you can allow the individual to become more knowledgeable in different areas. Exposure to different traditions and customs gives the individual a sense of experience. (Durkheim, 1893)
Durkheim emphasizes the positive role that both communities can play on the individual experience as it can either make you feel at home with individuals who share common interests with you or it can help expose you to a different way of life. Contrary to Tonnies’ perspective, she doesn’t view city life as a negative impact on the individual experience. Tonnies’ perspective is rather narrow-minded, it may be true in many ways because it is reality; however Durkheim focuses more on how the individual can grow from that experience. The individual learns how to work with individuals who are different from them and this allows them to grow in a sense of individuality.