Sociology America and Collective Conscience. Do you think there is a strong sense of “collective conscience” among Americans? Or you think Durkheimian collective conscience no longer applies to the diverse America today.

It is very interesting that Durkheim’s 200-year old concepts are still relevant today. Take “collective conscience” for example. This concept assumes that a group/society shares common values and these shared morality gives a strong sense that they are “together” as a unified collectivity. Durkheim’s theories on religion and rituals (“the sacred” and “the profane”) posit that rituals (e.g., worships, services, even non-religious ones such as holiday rituals) have the function of affirming “collective conscience” and strengthening the groups consciousness as a unified group–we bond as a group by participating rituals, religious or non-religious. Many groups are important to our lives (e.g., the family, schools, nation) and in many instances we treat them as “sacred.”

Today in America, we hear about divisions. Some people say America is a unity with diversity within (e.g., patriotism, democracy). Others say America is divided and there are prominent conflicts among them (e.g., racial and ethnic division, the 99% vs the 1%, political divisions). Considering these contemporary issues I am sure most of you follow, here is my question to the class for DB2.

Do you think there is a strong sense of “collective conscience” among Americans? Or you think Durkheimian collective conscience no longer applies to the diverse America today. Do you see “mechanical solidarity” or “organic solidarity” or both in the U.S? Or nothing at all? Take a position and provide some evidence/examples to support your position. I want to make clear that I am NOT asking about your beliefs and values (Do NOT say America is united because we ought to, or because I believe so). I want you to take the perspectives of a scientific observer, and try to assess the situation based on some empirical patterns you see in our society, that support or do not support Durkheim’s theories on group life. What you will practice here is to take a position and gather evidence to support your position.

For example, if you took the first position, what observations or social facts make you conclude that there are still shared core values supporting American “collective conscience”? What values do you observe holding America together in a group identity? What are the institutionalized tools and mechanisms that reinforce these shared values? Use specific examples, illustrations, and facts to support your argument. Or if you took the second position–that collective conscience is too weak or barely exists today in America-, then discuss your observations, statistics, and social facts that make you conclude America is no longer held by strongly shared values. In this case, do you see evidence of “organic solidarity”? Use specific examples, illustrations, and facts to support your argument. Please don’t go over 550 words.