“Why does the individual, while becoming more autonomous, depend more upon society?” – Émile Durkheim(UPSC PYQ)

Introduction:

Click here to join telegram group

Émile Durkheim, a founding figure of sociology, posed a profound paradox of modernity—the simultaneous growth of individual autonomy and social dependence. In his seminal work “The Division of Labour in Society”, Durkheim explores this contradiction and argues that modern society, though it fosters individualism, creates an even stronger network of social interdependence through specialization. This dialectic between autonomy and social cohesion lies at the heart of Durkheim’s sociological project.

Durkheim’s Central Concern:

Durkheim was responding to the transformation of European societies during the Industrial Revolution. As traditional bonds based on kinship, religion, and locality weakened, he observed the emergence of new forms of social cohesion. The question he raises—why modern individuals, despite being freer, depend more on society—is resolved through his concept of organic solidarity.

1. Division of Labour and Social Solidarity

Durkheim identifies two types of solidarity that correspond to different forms of society:

a) Mechanical Solidarity (Traditional Societies)

Characterized by similarity of roles, values, and beliefs.
Individual autonomy is minimal; people conform to collective norms.
Solidarity is based on collective conscience—a set of shared moral beliefs.
Example: A tribal community where everyone farms or hunts.

b) Organic Solidarity (Modern Societies)

Characterized by division of labour and specialization.
Individuals pursue distinct occupations, lifestyles, and beliefs.
Social cohesion arises not from similarity, but from interdependence.
Example: A modern city where a teacher depends on a farmer, a doctor, and a mechanic.

Hence, the more specialized and autonomous the individual becomes in function and identity, the more dependent they are on others for survival and well-being.

2. Autonomy in Modern Society

Durkheim acknowledges that modern individuals enjoy greater personal freedom:

They are not bound by rigid caste, clan, or religious rules.
They have the liberty to choose their careers, beliefs, and lifestyles.

However, this freedom does not equate to isolation. Instead, as individuals specialize, they lose self-sufficiency and require the cooperation of others in complex economic and social systems.

“The division of labour… creates among men a kind of moral bond… even while it renders them more autonomous.” – Durkheim

3. Dependence through Moral Regulation

Durkheim stresses that society does not disappear with modernity, it transforms:

Mechanical solidarity is maintained by repressive laws that punish deviance.
Organic solidarity is maintained by restitutive laws that regulate relations between individuals (e.g., contracts, rights).

This legal system becomes the moral framework of interdependence, reinforcing social order in a society of autonomous individuals.

4. Education and Collective Conscience

Durkheim emphasizes the role of education in creating a common moral base:

While individuals grow diverse in their functions, schools inculcate shared civic values.
This creates a weakened but necessary collective conscience, enabling harmony despite heterogeneity.

Thus, modern individuals require society to shape their moral orientation, reinforcing social dependence.

5. Anomie as a Risk of Excessive Individualism

Durkheim warns that unregulated individualism can lead to anomie, a state of normlessness:

When the balance between autonomy and regulation breaks, social order collapses.
For example, economic liberalization without moral or legal oversight can lead to alienation and suicide—an idea explored in his work “Suicide”.

Thus, dependence on society is not just functional but also moral.

Conclusion:

Durkheim resolves the paradox by showing that modern society transforms the nature of dependence. While individuals become autonomous in identity and function, they are structurally and morally more dependent on the collective due to specialization, legal regulation, and shared values.

In Durkheim’s view, freedom and dependence are not opposites but mutually reinforcing. Society enables individual autonomy while ensuring order through moral and legal frameworks. The very fact that people are more different and specialized in modern society necessitates a stronger reliance on one another.

Summary Table:

Aspect	Traditional Society	Modern Society
Type of Solidarity	Mechanical	Organic
Basis of Cohesion	Similarity	Interdependence
Role of Law	Repressive	Restitutive
Individual Autonomy	Low	High
Dependence on Society	Low (self-sufficiency)	High (specialization)
Risk of Breakdown	Minimal (rigid norms)	High (anomie if unregulated)