Sociologism and Émile Durkheim's Collective Consciousness in the Contemporary Context

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive socio-philosophical examination of social realism as a methodological lens for understanding the nature and dynamics of collective consciousness and the structural foundations of social life in contemporary societies. The research seeks to bridge classical sociological concepts of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, particularly those associated with Émile Durkheim’s theory of social facts, mechanical and organic solidarity, and division of labor, with contemporary interpretations that emphasize the moral, symbolic, and integrative dimensions of social reality. By analyzing a range of Ukrainian and international scholarly sources, including empirical and theoretical studies, the work demonstrates that collective consciousness functions as both a stabilizing and creative force within social structures, shaping norms, ethical frameworks, and shared values while simultaneously remaining dynamic and relational, reproduced continuously through social interactions and institutional practices. The study adopts a combination of hermeneutic, phenomenological, and critical realist methodologies, allowing for a nuanced reconstruction of social facts as real and independent entities that are nonetheless inseparable from the moral and symbolic fabric of society. Comparative analysis of domestic and foreign literature reveals that social realism offers a conceptual framework that integrates moral and symbolic dimensions with structural and functional aspects of social systems, enabling the assessment of social cohesion, the interplay between individual autonomy and collective norms, and the mechanisms through which social solidarity is sustained. The research highlights that mechanical solidarity reinforces social unity through shared values and similarities in social roles, whereas organic solidarity emerges from division of labor and interdependence, generating complex patterns of integration that maintain stability even amid high levels of individualization and social differentiation. Furthermore, the study identifies the continuing relevance of social realism for understanding modern processes of moral integration, social coordination, and institutional resilience, showing that classical theoretical constructs retain explanatory power when adapted to contemporary socio-philosophical challenges. The results underscore the methodological and conceptual significance of treating social facts as morally and symbolically structured realities, emphasizing the role of collective consciousness not merely as a regulatory framework but as an active agent of social coherence and ethical orientation. By synthesizing historical theoretical insights with current scholarly interpretations, this research contributes to the ongoing discourse on the epistemological and ontological status of social phenomena, offering a model for analyzing social cohesion and collective meaning-making that is both rigorous and adaptable to the complexities of post-industrial, globally interconnected societies, and provides a foundation for further empirical and theoretical investigations in social philosophy and sociology. The obtained results offer conceptual tools for the analysis of moral integration and social cohesion in post-industrial societies.