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Sunday, June 8, 2008
Collective consciousness defined.
Don't Stereotype Atheists - Beliefnet Forums: "I do find credible evidence for a 'collective consciousness' which is separate from the individual consciousness and accessible to individuals in times of emotional stress. It is nothing supernatural, just a multi-processor reservoir for the collected wisdom and lore of a tribe. The manifestation of this reservoir is called God by many tribes, and in these tribes rituals are created to reinforce the ability to access this collected wisdom called God."
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We, again, owe a debt to Emile Durkheim for the term Collective Consciousness. "Durkheim argued that in "traditional" or "simpler" societies (those based around clan, family or tribal relationships), religion played an important role in uniting members through the creation of a common consciousness (conscience collective in the original French). In societies of this type, the contents of an individual's consciousness are largely shared in common with all other members of their society, creating a mechanical solidarity through mutual likeness. As societies develop and become increasingly individualised, the organisation of the division of labour replaces this with an organic solidarity, displacing the need for collective consciousness.[1][2] With this diminishing of the collective consciousness, individuals are left open to anomie, the lack of a sense of shared values and an increasing sense of purposelessness."
Is this anomie, etc, a perceived lack on the part of the theist (collective consciousness) societies, a felt lack which must be compensated for by individuals leaving such societies, or is the ability to generate meaning and purpose outside the tribe a trait of those who were raised in a non-tribal environment?
The anomie that Durkheim found was a result of the "necessary social group" shrinking in size and importance to the individual. A person found themselves "adrift" without the need to find survival only in large, cohesive social groups. The two-edged sword; freedom from needing a group; not having the group identity that most required in the past.
I wonder if the group is shrinking or simply getting more diffuse. Certainly the parish or village is conducive to maintaining the collective consciousness. The rituals and frequent interactions make the group tight.
But as one's world grows more diverse it still seem that a few individuals from many different groups stay important and influential in forming and maintaining the basis of ones moral structure and meaning. Family is of course basic, but neighbors, teachers, and other mentors may form the collective consciousness that the individual can tap into as needed especially in the formative years.
The group becomes more diverse, but the group is still there.
Interesting thoughts...you started in the first sentence saying "the group is getting more diffuse," and this transitions to "the group becomes more diverse, but the group is still there."
I have a tough time with Durkheim's arguments concerning "mechanical solidarity" [of a primative tribal unit] when compared to "organic solidarity" [where each person's role is individually defined and experienced both within and separately from the group.] I observe many people use that few hours on Sunday to "reconnect" to the collective consciousness as one might fill up a car with gas.
Anomie is also a phenomenon of "getting lost in the crowd" and packed in so tight one can't feel themself.
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