Emile Durkheim: The Four Classical Theories Of Modernity

The four classical theorists of modernity are as follows: 1. Karl Marx: It is commodification 2. Max Weber: It is rationality 3. Emile Durkheim: It is differentiation 4. Georg Simmel: City and economy make modernity.

The classical theorists are those who are foundational theorists – they are the pioneer thinkers. Among them are included Marx, Weber, Durkheim and Simmel. Though these thinkers have not taken the concept of modernity in a formal way, their works indicate that they are concerned with the processes of modernization. In their own way, they have comprehended it. Here, we take up their approach to modernity.

1. Karl Marx: It is commodification: Marx’s concern with modernity was in terms of production relations. It was the objective

Durkheim was a product of 19th century. Like any other sociologist, he was also an evolutionist of his times. He traced the origin of society. In its evolutionary stage, the society had mechanical solidarity. Conscience collective, collective representations and repressive laws held the mechanical society together.

In course of evolution, the mechanical society attains the stage of organic solidarity. In this society, there is differentiation – multiple of occupations, plural ethnicities and varying people. This functional- organic structure of society is held together by social density and contractual relations.

Durkheim defines modernity in the context of social solidarity. His thesis is: more there is differentiation, more there is modernity”. Modernity creates functional dependence. In a modern society, the people depend on one another and this keeps the society in a state of solidarity. Differentiation does not create disorganization; it creates dependence. And, therefore, for Durkheim, modernity is differentiation, it is stratification. More is a society stratified; greater is the level of modernity.

4. Georg Simmel: City and economy make

Simmel: City life and money economy.

The concept of modernity has been defined by all the founding fathers of sociology. The definitions are diverse and varying. Despite diversity in their comprehension and perception, the fact remains that they have touched upon all the major formations or manifestations of modernity. It can therefore be safely concluded that these classical theorists have done very well in doing sociology of modernity.

By 1920 all four of above classical sociological theorists were dead. As we have now entered the 21st century, it is obvious that the world would be very different than it was in 1920. While there is great disagreement over when the postmodern age began (assuming for the moment that it did), no one puts that data before 1920.

The issue is whether the changes in the world since that time are modest and continuous with those associated with modernity, or are so dramatic and discontinuous that the contemporary world is better described by a new term – postmodern. Our guess is that in most of the parts of world, modernity is still a continuing process. Habermas, the German modernist, argues that the project of modernity, which started after enlightenment, is still an incomplete