STEM 11 - VAUGHAN FIRST SEMESTER – 2nd QUARTER

PHILOSOPHY: The Human Person in Society “Society is a complex of forms or processes each of which is living and
growing by interaction with the others, the whole being so unified that
SOCIETY what takes place in one part affects all the rest.”
● Organized group of people whose members interact frequently —Charles H. Cooley
and have a common territory and culture.
● A companionship/friendly association with others; an alliance, “Society includes not only the political relations by which man are bound
community, or union. together but the whole range of human relations and collective
activities."
The human person exists to relate with others. Humans are the only beings —Eleanor Burke Leacock
capable of establishing a society.
Structural
● Philosophers consider it as the product of deliberate actions by • Nothing but a structure
individuals who come together in pursuit of a common goal. • Refers to the social heritage of folkways, mores, ideals,
● Considered unique because of the nature of the human persons institutions and habits.
that compose it, and their relationships.
o Humans are able to influence society through their “A society is a collection of individuals united by certain relations or
actions. modes of behaviors which mark them off from others who do not enter
● The survival of human being is essentially rooted in society and into these relations or who differ from them in behavior.”
human relations. — Morris Ginsberg
● Founded on the concept of common good
“... the union itself, the organization, the sum of formal relations in which
Source: YouTube Media associated individuals are bound together.”
• From the word “Socius” - companion, association, or — F. H. Giddings
fellowship
o Humans always live in the company of their fellow “Society is the complex of organized associations and institutions within
human beings. the community.”
• Understood in different senses. — G.D. Cole
• Used to refer to the members of specific groups.
“Society may be defined as a group of people who have lived long
o Refers to some institutions like the Society of
enough to become organized and to consider themselves and be
Jesus
considered as a unit more or less distinct from other human units.”
o Refer to an association like consumer’s society,
— J. F. Cuber
co-operative society, or cultural society

“To remark that sociability is the essence of society.” — George Simmel

We can conclude that we cannot have an absolute, one-size-fits-all
• Used in the sense of a group such as rural society or urban definition on society:
society • considered as both a structural as well as functional unit
• Is abstract, not concrete, in nature • an organization, a system, and a pattern
• In sociology, refers not to a group of people but to the • a system of rules and regulations which changes in course
complex pattern of the norms or interaction or relationships of time
that arise among them • a larger group of which individuals are members
o Humans exist only as an agent of social
relationships
• Mere congregation of individuals do not constitute society
o Refers to the complicated network of social Social Contract Theory
relationships During the Enlightenment, social philosophers pondered the natural laws
• Society is viewed as a process of living not a thing, a motion that govern human societies.
rather than structure. ● To fully understand the true character of society, they imagined
o A system of social relationships is the most humans as living in a so-called “natural state,” removed from
important aspect of society
modernity and civilization.
• Every individual is interrelated with her fellow human beings.
● Individuals who establish societies enter into a “social
contract” – an agreement where individuals sacrifice an
Two Types of Definitions
• Are not unanimous in their opinion about society. amount of their freedom an submit to a higher authority.
• Not contradictory but complementary to each other.
Thomas Hobbes
Functional ● Persons in their natural state are governed by their desires and
• A process of social relationships these often lead to conflict with their fellowmen.
• As a complex of groups in reciprocal relationship, o Society, therefore, is the means by which people
interacting among themselves, and carrying on an seek to control their natural tendencies and impose
interdependent life and helping each other in fulfilling their order.
wishes. John Locke
● Considered people in their natural states as more cooperative
“...as the total complex of human relationship in so far as they grow out and reasonable.
of action in terms of means and relationship, intrinsic or symbolic.” ● Concept of the Governed - society is formed through the
—Talcott Parsons consent of the individuals that organized it.
● His social contract is covenant among individuals to cooperate
“Society is a system of usages and procedures, authority and mutual
aid, of many groupings and divisions, of controls of human behavior and and share the burden of upholding the welfare of society.
of liberties.” ● The authority established to run society should reflect the
— Robert Morrison Maclver & Charles H. Page ideals of the people who organized it.

BATCH 2023-2024 SHUU.M

STEM 11 - VAUGHAN FIRST SEMESTER – 2nd QUARTER

o Should this authority fail to uphold its obligation or o Stones and wood are the predominant raw
live up to the ideals of the people, it will be materials for construction of tools and weapons.
discarded and replaced. ● Tribal (members shared an ancestral heritage and a
common set of traditions and rituals) two specialized
Jean Jacques Rousseau positions are:
● His ideas led him to advocate the concept of “general will.” o headman - political leader
● Believed that even if the people are the ones who organized o shaman - acted as the spiritual leader
society and established an authority/government, in extreme
cases, the government is able to impose its will on people.
Pastoral Society
o Based on the assumption that people have
● Characterized by the domestication of animals for food for a
empowered the government to act on their behalf,
more stable and predictable food supply.
and considered to be the best judge of what is most
● Pastoral communities have larger populations than hunting and
beneficial for society.
gathering societies and remain longer in one place.
● Often produce surplus food and resources, which they trade with
More recent views give emphasis to individual decision-making in other societies.
society. ○ This enables the people to engage in other activities
apart from those necessary for survival
John Rawls ○ Eventually leads to the emergence of specialized
● Redefined the social contract and explained that human beings tasks in the community.
approach social cooperation in a rational manner in order to Source: YouTube Media
meet their individual interests. ● A nomadic group of people who travel with a herd of
● Introduced a version of the natural state which he called domesticated animals, which they rely on for food.
original position to explain social formation.
o Imagined humans as having a “veil of ignorance,”
or no knowledge of one’s own characteristics. Horticultural Society
o In this state, humans would naturally seek a just ● Primarily engages in the small-scale cultivation of plants, fruits,
and fair society in an effort to look out for their own and vegetables and the domestication of animals.
interests. ● Semi-nomadic, they travel to another place when they have
already depleted the resources in one area.
David Gauthier ● Roles and responsibilities are more clearly defined with many
● Described people’s self-interest as a significant factor in tasks assigned according to gender.
building and maintaining societies. ● There is also a surplus of goods, which sometimes leads to
o People choose to cooperate since it is beneficial to inequalities among its members.
meet their self-interests. this benefits society as a Source: YouTube Media
whole ● Developed a society that uses hand tools to raise crops.
o The actions of individuals in meeting their individual ○ Sticks or hoe-like instruments used to punch
needs also further the interests of the others. holes in the ground so that crops could be
planted.
● People no longer depend on the gathering of edible plants –
Although there are variations on the social contract theory, they have one they could now grow their own food.
common feature: different individuals enter into a kind of agreement with ● Transfer only from one are to another when there is a need
one another to form a society. individual members put aside their self- for it; depletion of the land’s resources or shortage in water
interest in order to create a community. supplies.
● In a society, one is not compromised for the sake of the other: ● Appearing almost the same as the horticulturalist are the
the individual is not in any way violated for the sake of the fishermen and herdsmen (shepherd)
community and vice versa. ○ fishing societies: have more definite home sites
● Only a society which ensures the development of the individual and permanent residence. have less inclination to
and their community may be considered a proper and travel because catching fish does not entail too
much travel.
humanizing way.
○ herding societies: relies on the domestication
and breeding of animals for food. domesticating
Different Forms of Societies animals allows for a more manageable food
Hunting and Gathering Society supply than do hunting and gathering. they live in
● The earliest and simplest form. such places as the desert, an arctic/mountainous
● Generally characterized by its small size and is composed area, which does not favor planting trees and
mainly of families. vegetables.
● Nomadic because they spend most of their time searching for
food and have no permanent history.
● Hierarchy is not varied, members are generally treated equally, Agrarian or Agricultural Society
decisions are arrived at a consensus. ● A further evolution of the pastoral and horticultural
o Because of this, the roles of its members and the societies.
division of labor is not clearly defined. ● Involves the large-scale and long-term cultivation of crops and
Source: YouTube Media domestication of animals.
● Primary institution is the family ● Characterized by improved technology and the use of tools to
o Decides how food is to be shared and how aid farming.
children are to be socialized, and which provides ● Result in increased production, giving rise to a growing
the protection of its members. population. this leads to a more structured social system that
● Used simple technology to hunt animals and gather helps manage resources and its members.
vegetation for survival.

BATCH 2023-2024 SHUU.M

STEM 11 - VAUGHAN FIRST SEMESTER – 2nd QUARTER

● The increasingly complex social organization and growing Post-Industrial Society

importance of territory often result in conflicts among ● Marked by the establishment of societies based on
neighboring societies over sources and land. knowledge, information, and the sale of services.
Source: YouTube Media ● Information influences the behavior of people and has thus
● Use technological advances to cultivate crops (wheat, corn, become a very important commodity.
rice, and barley) over a large area. ● Members have higher educational attainment, better training,
● Advantages: and specialized roles.
■ harnessing of animals Source: YouTube Media
■ development of metal tools ● The stage of society’s development when the service sector
■ the sue of the wheel generates more wealth than the manufacturing sector of the
■ improved knowledge of irrigation and economy.
fertilization. ● Marked by a transition from a manufacturing-based
● A system of rulers with high social status appeared. This economy to a service-based economy, a transition that is
nobility organized warriors to protect the society from also connected with subsequent societal restructuring.
invasion.

Virtual Society
Feudal Societies ● People organize themselves through communication
● Based on the ownership of land technology and the Internet.
● Arose out of developments in Western Europe during Medieval ● A product of a post-industrial society.
times. ● Individuals often engage in complex relationships, the have fluid
● Rulers grant their followers or vassals the right to manage identities and do not necessarily subscribe to certain norms or
parcels of land. established standards of behavior.
○ These vassals, in turn, are served by peasant ● The freedom allowed in virtual worlds means that a person is
workers who cultivate the land and tend to animals able to engage in various activities, as well as access various
in the farms. In return, they are provided military kinds of information.
protection. ● Despite advancements and changes, the human person still
● Members are organized based on status, those who: remains the heart and center of society.
○ own land - most powerful and influential. ● The person is the primary agent of change, as he drives social
○ peasants - lowest group. changes based on responses to events and developments
● Social relations are characterized by dependence: affecting society.
○ lord - depends on his vassals to provide him with
resources How Does Society Influence Our Development as Persons
○ vassals - depend on the peasants for their service 1. The person and the society have a very dynamic relationship
○ peasants - depend on the vassals for protection. in which one cannot exist without the other.
2. Society influences our development as persons in various ways.
An Agrarian or Feudal society gives rise to individuals who value relations 3. Society influences its members through the establishment of
among family members and with other members in the community. norms, a set of traits and behavior that society considers
● people are conscious of their place within and are mindful of the acceptable.
hierarchy • Laws - more formal and stringent norms that
● “higher classes” are treated with respect establish and define acceptable behavior of citizens,
● often traditional and are resistant to social change, preferring these also prescribe the consequences/penalties
to maintain the way things are. that will be imposed on violators.
• Folkways - less formal norms that arise from
Industrial Society tradition and do not result in punishment when
● Based on the use of specialized machinery in the production
violated.
of goods and services. 4. Norms, laws, and other rules regulate human interactions give
● Work is done in factories and public education is more rise to a social system, an organized/patterned set of
prevalent. relationships among individuals and groups that compose a
● Characterized by greater inequalities in wealth, power, and society.
influence, also by cultural diversity and the presence of
• each member is assigned a social role, actions and
bureaucratics forms of organizations.
behaviors expected of a certain individual.
● Often defined by the nature of work and prevailing industry in
• Individuals who share similar backgrounds or perform
an area, capitalists are considered the most influential.
similar roles are grouped into social
● Alienation is common as people are often seen as resources to
groups/classes.
be exploited.
• certain groups that perform vital functions in societies
Source: YouTube Media
● Uses advanced sources of energy, rather than humans and are recognized as social institutions.
animals, to run large machinery. ■ e.g family, school, government, and
● People and goods traveled much longer distances because religion.
of innovations in transportation; trains and steamships. 5. Society also transforms human relations, which leads to the
● Rural areas lost population because more and more people transformation of its members.
were engaged in factory work and had to move to the cities. 6. Social values - actions/ideals considered important by society;
● Fewer people were needed in agriculture, and societies cooperation, obedience to the law, concern and respect for
became urbanized, which means that the majority of the others are considered vital to maintaining an orderly society.
population within commuting distance of a major city.
How Does Society Influence Our Development as Persons
1. Society recognizes the capability of the person to develop, and
provides its members with opportunities to better themselves.

BATCH 2023-2024 SHUU.M

STEM 11 - VAUGHAN FIRST SEMESTER – 2nd QUARTER

2. Persons can also undertake to contribute to society through their

decisions and actions.
3. Social movement - a large-scale action done by various groups
and organizations decisions and actions in pursuit of a
common goal to bring about change.

BATCH 2023-2024 SHUU.M