Industrial Revolution

and the Birth of

Sociology

Émile Durkheim Ferdinand Tonnies Georg Simmel Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
 Karl Marx
• Karl Marx and numerous others sought to analyze transformations of
European society. Marx argued:

• That economic structure is the foundation for the social (family and society),
spiritual (religion), and political (political system)

• That social transformations come from conflict between those who own the means
of production (Capitalist/Bourgeoisie) and those who supply necessary labor
(Proletariat)

• That false consciousness is to believe that social problems are the fault of
individuals rather than the prevailing economic system (capitalism)
Marx and Engels

• Marx and Engels believed:

• Preindustrial, traditional societies were less than ideal and that cities freed
individuals to act on their own, become political subjects, and create the world
they want to live in

• Social evolution would only be complete after an anti-capitalist revolution that

would bring socialism. It would be in this moment that workers would realize
that they are exploited as a result of the capitalist system and together can
create a more just society
 Ferdinand Tonnies

2 Types of Social Organization

• Gemeinschaft [“community”] – people work together for the common

good and are united by family and neighborhood like in a small country
village

• Gesellschaft [“association”] – people are individualistic, selfish, have little

concern for the common good, and ties to family and neighborhood have
little significance like in a large city

These 2 Types Exist on a Continuum

Tonnies believed that settlements fell somewhere between the two ideal
types. In other words, no society is 100% Gemeinschaft or Gesellschaft.
Emile Durkheim
• Mechanical Solidarity
• Solidarity based on likeness, shared beliefs in customs, shared rituals etc.
• Families, tribes, and towns are relatively self-sufficient .
• Small communities in which work is not highly industrial or specialized.

• Organic Solidarity
• Individuals who are different from one another (more like a modern-day
city).
• Solidarity based on a complex division of labor , like in a highly
industrialized society where people are very specialized in terms of their
work (e.g., doctor, lawyer, mechanic, computer technician, accountant
etc.).
• Although this type of society may produce alienation, impersonality, etc.,
Durkheim believed this type to be superior over Mechanical Solidarity
because Organic Solidarity frees individuals to pursue their interests.
Georg Simmel

• What is Simmel’s view of the differences in

human stimuli in urban vs. rural life?

• How does this relate to urbanites

development of “rational” thinking?