¶ … Gemeinschaft and Gessellschaft. Second, is the definition of Anomie and what condition it may develop. Third, is a discussion of how sociology can be seen as developing from a concern about loss of community. And lastly, is a discussion of how social relationships in modern society differ from those of feudal society. Sociology Questions

German sociologist, Ferdinand Tonnies, introduced Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft as sociological catergories to describe two normal types of human association. Tonnies discussed these terms in his work entitled Gemeinshaft and Gesselschaft, which was first published in 1887. His second edition, printed in 1912, was a success, and these two terms became well-known, although often misunderstood, by German intellectuals, prior to 1933 ("Gemeinshaft," 2004).

Gemeinschaft is the association where an individual is oriented to the large association, equally or more than to their own self-interest. Additionally, individuals who are in Gemeinschaft are controlled by the common belief system that encompasses what the appropriate behaviors and responsisbilities of members are in the association, not only towards each other, but also for the association in general. These association are marked by a "unity of will" (Tonnies, 2001, p. 22). According to Tonnies, the most perfect expression of Gemeinschaft is the family. However, he saw that it could go beyond this to those experiencing a shared place or shared belief, including globally dispersed religious communities ("Gemeinschaft," 2004).

In contrast, Gesellschaft, describes the state where, for the individual, "larger association...

Individuals act of their own self-interest. As an example, a business is often comprised of individuals who have very little shared beliefs, yet it is their own self-interest, to earn money, that allows the business to continue.
2.

Anomie means the absences of any kind of law, rule, principle, or order. The term was first used by Greeks to define anything or anyone who was against rules, or to describe a condition when the present laws were not being applied. However, the contemporary definition of Anomie differs ("Anomie," 2004).

Emile Durkheim used the term Anomie in his book detailing the causes of suicide. He described it has a condition or malaise in individuals that is characterized "by an absence or diminution of standards or values, and an associated feeling of alienation and purposelessness" ("Anomie," 2004). This individual disorder can occur commonly for two reasons.

The first of these two reasons are when the surrounding society undergoes a significant financial change. This can be either a positive or negative change. The second occurs when there is a significant discrepancy between an individual's practices in everyday life and the ideological theories and values that are commonly held. In addition it can be a social disorder that is applied to groups who suffer due to the lack of commonly recognized rules of conduct ("Anomie," 2004).

3.

Sociology is the study of the social lives of humans, groups and societies. This study includes…