Above all, the essay shows in a philological vein how Durkheim clarifies over time, his theoretical and methodological inconsistency in The Division of Labour in Society on the various moral sources of solidarity. The focus of the solution is less and less on resorting to the social division of labour and more and more to the cult of the individual, Durkheim’s real moral equivalent of ‘collective consciousness’ in modern societies. At the same time, the essay shows how Durkheim never actually abandoned the reference to the notion of 'collective consciousness', taken up again in the two forms that the essay describes as particular (intermediate groups) and universal (cult of the individual). Together, the two collective consciences represent Durkheim’s response to the increasingly troubling question in modern and pluralist societies on how to combine the universal and the particular. The essay develops this issue in the direction of revitalising of Durkheim’s ideal of the person and of socially regulated freedom. Moreover, in response to the accusation of social theology launched at Durkheim’s concept of the sacredness of the individual, the essay supports the argument that he treats the subject more as a social and historical construction rather than a religious dogma.
Aporie della solidarietà. Rivitalizzare l'ideale della persona in Durkheim
Massimo Pendenza
2019-01-01
Abstract
Above all, the essay shows in a philological vein how Durkheim clarifies over time, his theoretical and methodological inconsistency in The Division of Labour in Society on the various moral sources of solidarity. The focus of the solution is less and less on resorting to the social division of labour and more and more to the cult of the individual, Durkheim’s real moral equivalent of ‘collective consciousness’ in modern societies. At the same time, the essay shows how Durkheim never actually abandoned the reference to the notion of 'collective consciousness', taken up again in the two forms that the essay describes as particular (intermediate groups) and universal (cult of the individual). Together, the two collective consciences represent Durkheim’s response to the increasingly troubling question in modern and pluralist societies on how to combine the universal and the particular. The essay develops this issue in the direction of revitalising of Durkheim’s ideal of the person and of socially regulated freedom. Moreover, in response to the accusation of social theology launched at Durkheim’s concept of the sacredness of the individual, the essay supports the argument that he treats the subject more as a social and historical construction rather than a religious dogma.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
