Organic Solidarity
Jeffrey Moy
In modern society, everyone has a specialized role, such as doctors treating the sick or farmers producing food. Durkheim suggests that we all live in a community where everyone has a specialized role and we rely on other people for assistance in their specialized area for society to function properly. This is known as organic solidarity because there exists a social unity based on a division of labor that results in people being depending on others. As an intern at the Shedd Aquarium, I have witnessed the responsibilities everyone must complete everyday in order to maintain the solidarity within the organization. I will now explain how I believe this organization is a prime example of organic solidarity by four main points. They include: greater division of labor, inter-dependence, society is less personal, and people relationships are based on roles.
Organic solidarity means differentiation, which suggests that people in a modern society have a greater division of labor. The Shedd Aquarium relates to this because everyone has their own specialized role with a distinct skill set. The high division of labor suggests that everyone does their part to contribute to the overall functionality of the organization. According to the article, it says, “The more labour is divided up, the greater the dependence on society, and, on the other hand, the more specialized the activity of each individual, the more personal it is” (Durkheim 38). Durkheim infers that specialization causes people to focus on their respective role in society, which causes them to work in their own area as individuals. Though everyone is working as individuals, Durkheim suggests that we live in a reality that none of us can survive without other peoples contributions and that we must collaborate together for the organization to function properly. This brings me to my next topic which is inter-dependence.
Inter-dependence is when we rely on other people to meet our needs and is another criteria of organic solidarity. The Shedd Aquarium relates to this because everyone has their own specialized role and is dependent on others as well for its success in the organization. According to the article, it says. “Each organ, in fact, has its special characteristics, its autonomy, and yet, the greater the unity of the organism, the more maked it is the individuation of its parts” (Durkheim 38). Durkheim suggests that each organ has a specific duty to perform. All organs need to function in order for the entire system to work properly. If one organ fails to function, the entire system breaks down. In turn, the Shedd aquarium is a popular attraction in Chicago that has over two million visitors a year. As an attraction, its job is to evoke interest and pleasure for all that come. With everyone at the Shedd aquarium working in their own specialized role, whether it is feeding the animals, tending the guests, or planning the next exhibit, all duties are an integral part for the guest experience to enjoy the facility.
Lastly, the Shedd Aquarium relates to organic solidarity because society is less personal and relationships are based on roles. At the aquarium, the interactions that exist between the workers are business formal. When we introduce ourselves to one another, we say our name and the department we work for. This enables us to remember that if we are ever in need of others for assistance, we know who to contact. This is important for organic solidarity because working for a huge organization like the Shedd Aquarium requires a greater division of labor to accommodate for all the specialized roles that are needed. And in the organization, our interactions are based on roles of what we do, which makes us less personal and more formal.
Jeffrey Moy
In modern society, everyone has a specialized role, such as doctors treating the sick or farmers producing food. Durkheim suggests that we all live in a community where everyone has a specialized role and we rely on other people for assistance in their specialized area for society to function properly. This is known as organic solidarity because there exists a social unity based on a division of labor that results in people being depending on others. As an intern at the Shedd Aquarium, I have witnessed the responsibilities everyone must complete everyday in order to maintain the solidarity within the organization. I will now explain how I believe this organization is a prime example of organic solidarity by four main points. They include: greater division of labor, inter-dependence, society is less personal, and people relationships are based on roles.
Organic solidarity means differentiation, which suggests that people in a modern society have a greater division of labor. The Shedd Aquarium relates to this because everyone has their own specialized role with a distinct skill set. The high division of labor suggests that everyone does their part to contribute to the overall functionality of the organization. According to the article, it says, “The more labour is divided up, the greater the dependence on society, and, on the other hand, the more specialized the activity of each individual, the more personal it is” (Durkheim 38). Durkheim infers that specialization causes people to focus on their respective role in society, which causes them to work in their own area as individuals. Though everyone is working as individuals, Durkheim suggests that we live in a reality that none of us can survive without other peoples contributions and that we must collaborate together for the organization to function properly. This brings me to my next topic which is inter-dependence.
Inter-dependence is when we rely on other people to meet our needs and is another criteria of organic solidarity. The Shedd Aquarium relates to this because everyone has their own specialized role and is dependent on others as well for its success in the organization. According to the article, it says. “Each organ, in fact, has its special characteristics, its autonomy, and yet, the greater the unity of the organism, the more maked it is the individuation of its parts” (Durkheim 38). Durkheim suggests that each organ has a specific duty to perform. All organs need to function in order for the entire system to work properly. If one organ fails to function, the entire system breaks down. In turn, the Shedd aquarium is a popular attraction in Chicago that has over two million visitors a year. As an attraction, its job is to evoke interest and pleasure for all that come. With everyone at the Shedd aquarium working in their own specialized role, whether it is feeding the animals, tending the guests, or planning the next exhibit, all duties are an integral part for the guest experience to enjoy the facility.
Lastly, the Shedd Aquarium relates to organic solidarity because society is less personal and relationships are based on roles. At the aquarium, the interactions that exist between the workers are business formal. When we introduce ourselves to one another, we say our name and the department we work for. This enables us to remember that if we are ever in need of others for assistance, we know who to contact. This is important for organic solidarity because working for a huge organization like the Shedd Aquarium requires a greater division of labor to accommodate for all the specialized roles that are needed. And in the organization, our interactions are based on roles of what we do, which makes us less personal and more formal.