Difference Between Alienation And Anomie

Alienation and Anomie: Social Psychology of Societal Regulation Alienation is a concept central to sociological work as a popular tool for analysis. This is highlighted in this statement by Erich Kahler “The history of man may very well have been written as a history of the alienation of man”, (Seeman, 1959). Sentence about current use imperically? In the 1950’s ...Seeman developed five basic meanings of the ways the concept of alienation has been used: powerlessness, meaninglessness, normlessness, isolation, and self estrangement, (Seeman 1959). Of these five different takes on alienation, I will focus on powerlessness and normlessness; they represent Marx’s concept of alienation and Durkheim’s concept of anomie respectively. They were both conceived at the dawn of modernity in Europe in …show more content…
Although Marx and Durkheim (and their concepts) share many similarities, I will argue that as a response to capitalism and the negative effects of modernity, the marked differences in their underpinning assumptions and theories, interests, and style that create Marx’s concept of alienation and Durkheim’s concept of anomie to be quite different. 204 Marx and Durkheim each had different assumptions about man and society, (Horton, 1964). Outlining just a few of these highlights the restrictions they each worked with and sets them apart as theorists. Marx’s assumes the relationships between man and society are soon to change. He also “assumes the value of freedom from constraint”, (Horton, 1964) this underpins his work, and he is thus keen to highlight the potential for the highest