This document summarizes the sociological theories of Ferdinand Toennies, including his concepts of Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft. [1] Toennies experienced industrialization and population growth in Germany in the late 19th century. [2] He founded the German Sociological Society and opposed the rise of Nazism. [3] Toennies theorized that Gemeinschaft referred to close-knit communities based on kinship, neighborhood, and friendship, maintained through authority and common will. Gesellschaft referred to more impersonal societies based on self-interest and economic exchange.

1. EDAG 641
THE LEADER AND LEARNING COMMUNITIES
Workshop 1
Ferdinand Toennies
Adapted from Ronald Keith Bolender
Thursday, February 28, 2013 1

2. Ferdinand Toennies
References
Christodoulou, Stavroula. 1965. 19th-Century Sociologists.
2d ed. New York: Monarch Press.
Perdue, William D. 1986. Sociological Theory: Explanation,
Paradigm, and Ideology. Palo Alto, CA: Mayfield
Publishing Company.
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3. Ferdinand Toennies
1855-1936
Born in Germany
Experienced the industrialization of Germany
Experienced the population explosion within Germany
Founded the German Sociological Society (along with
Max Weber, Georg Simmel, and Werner Sombart)
Serving as its president from 1909 to 1933
He opposed the rise of nazism and was dismissed from
his post in 1933 (when Hitler rose to power)
(Perdue 1986:77-81)
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4. Ferdinand Toennies:
Gemeinschft und
Gesellschaft
Gem einschaf t Gesellschaf t
Community Society
Folk Urban
Natural Will Rational Choice
(Authority and Common Will)
Homogeneity Heterogeneity
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5. Ferdinand Toennies:
Theory of Gemeinschaft (Community)
The theory of Gemeinschaft assumes that
all human wills are united and that this is
their natural condition. These wills are
related either by blood or by marriage,
through three strong types of
relationships: man-wife, mother-child, and
between children of the same mother.
(Christodoulou 1965:61-65)
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6. Ferdinand Toennies:
Theory of Gemeinschaft (Community)
The man-woman relationship is not always
long and lasting, and it is based on the sexual
instinct. Usually at the beginning of the
relationship, it is one-sided because the man
is the dominant party and the woman is
passive. Later on, when they have children,
the bond between man and woman becomes
stronger.
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7. Ferdinand Toennies:
Theory of Gemeinschaft (Community)
The mother-child relationship is the most
important because it is a very deep one.
Nature gives the mother a helpless baby who
depends on her for food, clothing, and
general care. Consequently, the mother loves
the child very much and this is an instinctive
feeling. The child on the other hand, returns
the mother’s affection and is also grateful to
her for all that she gave him. Both mother and
child are bound together with memories of
their common past.
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8. Ferdinand Toennies:
Theory of Gemeinschaft (Community)
The father-child relationship resembles the
relationship between brothers and sisters,
only it is less intense. The father assumes
authority over his children and delegates his
powers to his first son in the case of
primogeniture (this means that the first son
inherits his father’s possessions and his title).
In cases where all children inherit equally,
they receive their rights directly through the
father and not through the elder brother.
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9. Ferdinand Toennies:
Theory of Gemeinschaft (Community)
The brother-sister relationship is not based on
instinct. In the old times, marriages between brothers
and sisters were allowed, but it is now prohibited. The
children of the same mother have memories of
experiences which they had shared in the past while
they were growing up together. They also are more
alike, since they have a common biological heritage.
Consequently we can say that the brother-sister
relationship is the most “human” of man’s
characteristics.
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10. Ferdinand Toennies:
Theory of Gemeinschaft (Community)
There are three types of Gemeinschaft: the
kinship group, the neighborhood, and
friendship.
The kinship group live in the same house in close
proximity to each other; they eat together; they
have common enemies; they must protect the
family honor; and they share common ancestors.
This type of life fosters affection and love among
members and results in a very closely-knit group.
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11. Ferdinand Toennies:
Theory of Gemeinschaft (Community)
The neighborhood consists of several dwellings in
close proximity to one another and the inhabitants
share belief in the common deities of the village.
They also share common rituals, beliefs, and
customs. Therefore, there is a give-and-take in the
neighborhood.
Friendship is a mutual feeling of affection between
two individuals. It is created by choice; therefore
no instinct is involved. Usually the parties in a
friendship situation have common likes and
dislikes, and often they have similar occupations.
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12. Ferdinand Toennies:
Theory of Gemeinschaft (Community)
Gemeinschaft is maintained through two
kinds of wills: authority and common will.
Authority is created when one person’s will is
increased while at the same time, somebody
else’s will is decreased or curbed. Authority
involves both rights and duties. However, as far as
the authority of the Gemeinschaft type is
concerned, the difference in wills cannot be great,
otherwise there will not be a common will.
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13. Ferdinand Toennies:
Theory of Gemeinschaft (Community)
Common will is the binding force which keeps a number of
individuals together in the Gemeinschaft. It is based on the
fact that these individuals share the same beliefs, values,
and ways of behaving. The common will is expressed
through language (words and gestures), because
only through language we can let others know what
we think, what we fear, and what we like. Only
through language can we communicate and understand one
another. The mother also uses language--to admonish or to
praise her child, as well as to instill in him certain values and
beliefs which he will have to use in order to share in the
common will.
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14. Ferdinand Toennies:
Theory of Gemeinschaft (Community)
The three basic laws of Gemeinschaft
Blood relatives and married couples, neighbors
and friends feel affection for each other and have
common beliefs and customs.
This affection and similarity in beliefs and values
creates “understanding.”
By virtue of this love and understanding the
members of the group tend to stay togther and the
result is the Gemeinschaft type of relationship.
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15. Ferdinand Toennies:
Theory of Gesellschaft (Society)
In the Gesellschaft type of relationship, a large number of
individuals live in close proximity without exhibiting any of the
characteristics of Gemeinschaft. There is no common will.
Everyone looks after his own personal interests and does not wish
to contribute anything to the community. Any expression of interest
in others is regarded with suspicion. Personal property is separate
and distinct, and there is no common property. Everything in
the Gesellschaft type of relationship is
compared, weighed, and measured, so that
when a person gives something away, he is
sure to receive something else which he
considers of equal value and/or worth.
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16. Ferdinand Toennies:
Theory of Gesellschaft (Society)
Value is the quality which an object possess
in being better than another object. Who
determines value? In the Gesellschaft, a thing
is of value if it is possessed by one individual
and not by all; those who do not possess the
object in question desire to possess it.
Therefore, this gives the object value. An
object does not have to be practically useful
in order to be considered of value.
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17. Ferdinand Toennies:
Theory of Gesellschaft (Society)
The worth of an object is estimated by the
amount of labor which is required for its
production.
The result is that every individual in the
Gesellschaft works and produces certain objects
or services which he offers to other individuals in
exchange for their products. At first glance, they all
seem to work for each other and for the welfare of
the Gesellschaft in general. At closer scrutiny, this
reveals itself to be an illusion. In reality
everyone looks after himself only.
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18. Ferdinand Toennies:
Theory of Gesellschaft (Society)
There are times when the Gesellschaft is
suddenly thrown into a Gemeinschaft
level of activity…fighting a common
enemy.
Catastrophic natural events
Floods
Tornadoes
Earthquakes
Major wars
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19. Ferdinand Toennies:
Gemeinschft und
Gesellschaft
Paper:
Applying the theories of
Gemeinschaft und Gesellschaft to
real world. Situations…practical
uses for these theories.
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