Durkheim theory on individualism focuses on ensuring there is a social order in society. According to his model on individualism, Durkheim was an advocate for the rights of the individual and was a true believer in the notion that social justice could only be attained when justice and equality become realized. Durkheim does not include women in his context on what is social justice. According to Durkheim, the illness of modernity was brought about by the changes in the structure of society that have taken place over a short period. Individual judgment is no longer based on collective judgment and traditions does not have the controlling influence that it used to have. This paper will analyze abortion according to the ideology portrayed by Durkheim.
A democratic state according to the individual theory will have the moral authority to the extent that it advances and guarantees individual rights and self-actualization. Ethical individualism according to Durkheim will be the reality in the future because the collective conscience will be highly diffused and individual differences will increase ( Boyle, Kim & Longhofer, 2015 ). Durkheim predicts that moral individual is will because of the new source of morality. His theory focuses on moral individuality that would ensure there is respect and cooperation and human dignity all get attained. Anthony & Sterkens (2019) argue that Durkheim advocates for the attainment of happiness and dignity of the highest standard attainable.
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Durkheim explains that social norms are the acceptable behavior that is created by society and are external and not individual. The social models are the beliefs that individuals collectively hold, and they get used when significant decisions such as the issue of abortion are discussed. Abortion has become a controversial dilemma over the last decade. The pro-abortion supporters argue that the mothers should have the decision to choose whether or not they should keep or terminate the pregnancy because they have a right to decide on what happens to their bodies. The critics of abortion argue that abortion is wrongful and should not be allowed because to them life begins at conception. Durkheim supported that social constraints and morality are necessary for the society to run seamlessly and the restrictions are essential ( Adamczyk & Valdimarsdóttir, 2018 ). Without restrictions, the community would not have meaning and structure.
An ideal society according to Durkheim would be where self-controls more critical compared to expression and value of duty more than rights. Durkheim would be a critic of abortion because he believed that limiting the autonomy of people, social hierarchies and religion is vital and Advocate for the need to restrict the independence of individuals. If the women are left to decide whether or not to conduct an abortion, then numerous cases would be reported to the same. An individual cannot entirely restrict and remove himself from the social constraints that have been placed by society. In the community that Durkheim envisioned the individuals would be able to hold each one accountable and would suppress the selfish acts of others and also punish those who deviate from the social norms ( Adamczyk & Valdimarsdóttir, 2018 ). Abortion would therefore not be allowed when one examines the individual theory as proposed by Durkheim would be able to suppress the selfish acts of other people for the common good of the majority.
Additionally, human beings are bound to punish those who do not hold their views which is wrong because different people have different opinions and nobody should be forced to conform and uphold values that are different. In the society that is proposed by Durkheim three tenets would be present that is authority, purity and in-group and would advocate against the practice of abortion. Man must not free himself from the social pressures because it would leave him with no norms that will be applicable leading to lawlessness and might result in harm to others if there is no law in place. It is essential to come up with a middle ground on the need for self-determination while on the other hand ensure that we have a responsibility towards the social attitudes and norms that are applicable.
It is essential, furthermore, to be accountable because a society that does not have shared values would be disastrous because there would be no cooperation and individuals might start getting into conflict with one another as they fight for their rights. Religion acts as social control in the society, and this is similar to the view of Durkheim on the importance of monitoring and especially when it comes to sensitive issues such as abortion and the sanctity of life. Boyle, Kim & Longhofer (2015) contend that where societies are religious, there is more unity and because the community will have a shared set of moral and social beliefs that would reflect on the culture of the people. Durkheim would not support abortion in the world today and would be more likely too conservative and would support the norms that have been set place by society.
In summary, the views of Durkheim and that of the pro-abortion would vary significantly. The reason for the variance would be because the pro-abortion supporters insist on the right of an individual to decide what to do with their body to the exclusion of others while Durkheim insists on the importance of self-control methods that would suppress the rights of the individual to ensure the common good of all people.
References
Adamczyk, A., & Valdimarsdóttir, M. (2018). Understanding Americans' abortion attitudes: The role of the local religious context. Social science research , 71 , 129-144.
Anthony, F. V., & Sterkens, C. (2019). Religion and the right to (dispose of) life: A study of the attitude of Christian, Muslim and Hindu students in India concerning death penalty, euthanasia and abortion. In Euthanasia, Abortion, Death Penalty and Religion-The Right to Life and its Limitations (pp. 13-63). Springer, Cham.
Boyle, E. H., Kim, M., & Longhofer, W. (2015). Abortion liberalization in world society, 1960–2009. American Journal of Sociology , 121 (3), 882-913.
