Marx, Engels, and Durkheim had distinct perspectives on capitalism, particularly the contemporary division of work. Marx and Engels, in their works, primarily focused on the social disparities between social groups and maintained that the separation of labor led to alienation. Durkheim emphasized social variables, while Marx based his theory on social critique and conflict. Each has adopted a clearly defined viewpoint when discussing human existence, acts, conduct, and the creation of human society. In this sense, while Marx and Engels view the essence of capitalism as eroding power, Durkheim finds the division of labor as a cornerstone of economic health.
The division of labor, on the other hand, was not always detrimental to the person or society, according to Durkheim. Contrary to Marx, who argued that economic specialization led to alienation, functionalist Durkheim thought the division of labor was advantageous for organizations since it improved worker competence and fostered a sense of community among individuals. He asserted that the delivery split brings social systems together and creates a particular equilibrium, effectively increasing their efficiency. Durkheim claimed that the causes of the development of labor division lay within shifts in social structure brought on by an imagined naturally increasing quantity and density of people. The division of labor theory is still relevant in today’s society, even though Marx and Durkheim primarily based their views on the 19th century and the rise of industrialization.
Marx and Durkheim disagreed on alienation, and, according to Durkheim, separation only occurs very infrequently. According to Marx and Engels, “how far the productive forces of a nation are developed is shown most manifestly by the degree to which the division of labor has been carried” (43). Someone who concurs with Durkheim would contend that a worker in retail nowadays is constantly interacting with others, whether they are clients or other employees. Although their job is to sell or refill, they are conscious of their economic contribution and a more comprehensive picture. The employee realizes they are a component of a whole.
Additionally, in his works, Durkheim asserted that human desires are limitless. The man believed that “the more one has, the more one wants since satisfaction only stimulates instead of filling needs” (Durkheim 248). Marx and Engels believed that “the first historical act is… the production of material life itself. This is indeed a historical act, a fundamental condition of all history” (Marx 6). They build on the concept of historical materialism by focusing on this notion.
Furthermore, since people in primitive civilizations are less differentiated and related because they are similar, these societies tend to come together mechanically. According to Durkheim, “the divisions that one sees in all societies are core to the configuration of the social order itself” (Hausner 2). Differentiated individuals naturally join to form a coherent whole in advanced civilizations, which come together in a more complex representation of solidarity known as organic solidarity. Durkheim explained how the division of labor – creating specific jobs for particular people – benefits civilization since it boosts a process’s potential for reproduction and the workers’ skill set. Three factors can affect population density: a rise in the spatial concentration of individuals, the expansion of settlements, and an increase in the quantity and effectiveness of communication tools. Labor starts to get split, and jobs become more specialized when one or more of these conditions occur. The fight for a meaningful existence gets harder as jobs become more complex. The distinction between emerging and advanced civilizations and how they view social solidarity is a fundamental subject.
In conclusion, Marx, along with Engels, claimed that the capitalists force the division of labor on the working class for their financial gain. Marx emphasized exploitation and conflict, whereas Durkheim emphasized cooperation. Émile Durkheim thought that communities evolved from mechanical to organic solidarity as time passed. Karl Marx believed that class antagonism is the reason society exists. Workers become estranged from themselves and others in the community as capitalism flourishes.
Works Cited
Durkheim, Emile. “Emile Durkheim on Anomie.” 1951. Web.
Hausner, S. “The division of labour after Durkheim.” Oxford Bibliographies in Sociology, 2019. Web.
Marx, Karl. “The German Ideology.” 1845. Web.