Final answer:
Durkheim viewed traditional societies as unified by mechanical solidarity and a strong collective conscience, but he worried about the fragmentation of modern societies due to anomie. He believed religion played a crucial role in social cohesion, and that society would adapt to uphold solidarity even with the decline of traditional religion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Émile Durkheim, a foundational figure in sociology, had a comprehensive view of traditional societies and their social cohesion. In traditional societies, according to Durkheim, mechanical solidarity held people together through a shared conscience and common practices. This type of solidarity is contrasted with organic solidarity, which is characteristic of more complex, industrial societies where individuals perform specialized tasks and social bonds are based on interdependence.
Durkheim emphasized the idea of collective conscience in traditional societies, where communal beliefs, morals, and attitudes are held in common. The unity of society in this way maintains social order and ensures social stability. Moreover, Durkheim explored the role of religion in society, seeing it as integral to social cohesion by providing social control, meaning, and purpose to individuals within the community.
However, Durkheim also expressed concern about the weakening of social bonds in his contemporary society due to rising individualism and decreasing collective conscience, a phenomenon he termed anomie. Even with these concerns, he believed that even if traditional religion were to decline, society could find other ways to maintain its social solidarity.