The Modern Society
Modern society is a symbol of unified interdependence. According to the author, the success of any society depends on the division of labor, in which every individual performs a specific role to enhance society's prosperity. The author also argues that self-sustenance cannot be achieved if people decide to work independently in every role.
Division of Labor
The high division of labor epitomizes a sense of sincere commonality. According to Durkheim, progressive society is characterized by a high division of labor. For instance, every individual is engaged in doing something that others cannot do, which ensures that society can meet all its needs.
Primitive Society
The primitive society signifies the collective consciousness and common beliefs. The strong collective perception and mutual beliefs among the ancient people are critical in talent diversification and societal prosperity. Consequently, the reader realizes that the lack of specialized division of labor in the traditional society did not hinder solidarity among the communities.
Restrictive Law
Restrictive law symbolizes order restoration in society. Unlike the repressive law that extorted a wrongdoer from the society, the restrictive law is practiced in the modern society where a lawbreaker is a given another opportunity to change and do what the society expects.
The Cities
The author mentions the cities to symbolize the initiation of the division of labor. The cities are at the centers of innovations, which is where labor division becomes a necessity. It is important to note that each city specialized in a particular production. Therefore, the people in these cities needed to split responsibilities, which initiated the division of labor.