PPT Human Society IPHP PDF

# The Human Person in Society (Part 1) The Human Person in the Society plays a vital role in promoting the universal idea that humans have roles and responsibilities in their respective community and in the society as a whole. ## What is society? ## What drives human beings to establish societies?...

# The Human Person in Society (Part 1) The Human Person in the Society plays a vital role in promoting the universal idea that humans have roles and responsibilities in their respective community and in the society as a whole. ## What is society? ## What drives human beings to establish societies? - The human person by nature is a "social being". - Throughout a person's life, he or she experiences a variety of relationships that help shape him or her as a person. - **SOCIETY** - an organized group of people whose members interact frequently and have a common territory and culture. - Society also refers to a companionship or friendly association with others, an alliance, a community, or a union. - Philosophers consider society as the product of deliberate actions by individuals who come together in pursuit of a common goal. - As individual persons, members of society are able to transform themselves and attain development through their interactions within society. In turn, humans are also able to influence society through their actions. - Society and its various aspects provide support that ensures the development of the human person. - Society also provides opportunities to further growth in the coming years. # The Social Contract Theory - During the Age of Enlightenment, social philosophers studied the natural laws that govern human societies. - Enlightenment philosophers such as *Thomas Hobbes, John Locke*, and *Jean Jacques Rousseau* were among the most prominent social theorist who tackled the origins of human society. ## Social Contract Theory according to *Thomas Hobbes* - Persons in their natural states are governed by their desires and those often lead to conflict with their fellowmen. - Society is a means by which people seek to control their natural tendencies and impose order. - Individuals who establish societies enter into a "social contract" - an agreement where individuals sacrifice an amount of their freedom and submit to a higher authority. ## Social Contract Theory according to *John Locke* - Persons in their natural states are more cooperative and reasonable, and that society is formed through the consent of the individuals that organized it (*consent of the governed*). - Locke's social contract is a covenant among individuals to cooperate and share the burden of upholding the welfare of the society. - People have the rights to overthrow a failed government. A diagram depicting social contract theory shows arrows connecting **People** to a **Social Contact**, which in turn connects to **Government (Kings)**. The arrows between **People** and **Social Contract** go in both directions: **give power** and **protect their rights**. The arrows going from **Government (Kings)** to **Social Contract** show **misuse power** and **replace or overthrow it**. ## Social Contract Theory according to *Jean Jacques Rousseau* - Advocate the concept of "general will". - Based on the assumption that the people have empowered the government to act on their behalf, and that it is considered to be the best judge of what is most beneficial for society. ## Social Contract Theory as viewed by *John Rawls* - Human beings approach social cooperation in a rational manner in order to meet their individual self-interests. - Introduced the concept of "original position" in which he imagined humans as having a "veil of ignorance" - no knowledge of one's own characteristics such as gender, race or social status. In this state, humans would naturally seek a just and fair society to look out for their own interests. - Although there are variations on the social contract theory, one common feature they all have is that different individuals enter into a kind of agreement with one another to form a society. - Individual members put aside their self-interest in order to create a community where they may live in harmony with others. - It is important to note that society is founded on the concept of the "common good". - The common good refers to the social conditions which enable persons and groups to fulfill their goals and achieve well-being. - Example: peace within the community, clean and safe public spaces, efficient transport system, and efficient public service. # The Human Person in Society (Part 2) ## What are the different forms of societies? - **Hunting and Gathering Society** - Recognized as the earliest and simplest form of society. - Nomadic. - Members are generally treated equally and decisions are based on consensus. - **Pastoral Society** - Characterized by the domestication of animals for food for a more stable and predictable food supply. - Pastoral societies often produce surplus food and resources. - Leads to the emergence of specialized tasks in the community. - **Horticultural Society** - Primarily engages in the small-scale cultivation of plants, fruits, and vegetables and the domestication of animals. - Semi-nomadic. - The assignment of tasks and occupations were often based on gender. - **Agrarian or agricultural society** - Involves the large-scale and long-term cultivation of crops and domestication of animals. - Characterized by improved technology and the use of tools to aid in farming. - Give rise to a growing population and a more structured social system. - **Feudal Society** - Based on the ownership of land. - Originated during the Medieval Age in Western Europe. - Members of society are organized based on status. - Social relations are characterized by dependence. A diagram depicting the structure of feudal society shows a pyramid. At the top is the **King**, who owns all the land in the country. Below him are ***Lords (vassals to the King)* who received land from the *King*. The *Lords* provide the *King* with **Loyalty** and **Military Aid**. Below then come **Knights (vassals to the Lords)**, who provided the *Lords* with **Military Service**, received **Protection**, **Shelter** and land. At the bottom of the pyramid are **Peasants (serfs)**, who farm the land, provide the **Knights** with **Food**, and receive **Protection** and **Shelter** in return. - **Industrial Society** - Based on the use of specialized machinery in the production of goods and services. - "Industrial Revolution" - Technological advances in this period resulted in improved trade and commerce. - Work is done in factories. - Lead to greater inequalities in wealth, power, and influence. - **Post-Industrial Society** - Marked by the establishment of societies based on knowledge, information, and the sale of services. - Trend has shifted has shifted from industry to the generation, storage, manipulation, and sale of information. - "Virtual Society" - A "digital citizen" is a person who is knowledgeable and responsible enough to effectively use different social platforms on the internet. They often engage in useful topics and issues that will help build a better society, politics and government. ## How does society influence our development as persons? - The person and the society have a very dynamic relationship in which one cannot exist without the other. - Society influences our development as persons in various ways. - Society influences the interactions of its members through the establishment of ***norms*** - a set of traits and behavior that society considers acceptable. - When members of a society do not conform to established norms, one can experience negative consequences, such as *punishment* or *social stigma*. - Norms are one of the ways that society regulates behavior to establish social order. - *Laws* - more formal and stringent norms that establish and define acceptable behavior of citizens. - *Folkways* - are less formal norms that arise from tradition and do not result in punishment when violated. (Eg: dress code) - *Social System* - an organized or patterned set of relationships among individuals and groups that compose a society. - *Social Role*- are actions and behaviors expected of a certain individual. (Eg: being a father, son, daughter, teacher, etc). - *Social groups or Social classes* - group of individuals who share similar backgrounds or perform similar roles. (Eg: rich, middle class, poor) - *Social institutions* - groups that perform vital functions in society. (family, school, government, religion) - Society also transforms human relations, which leads to the transformation of its members. - *Social values* are actions or ideals that are considered important by society. (cooperation, obedience to the law, concern for other, respect for others) - *Generation Gap* - conflict among people of different ages when discussing certain topics. ## How does society enable me to become a better person? - We have the freedom to rise above circumstances and make ourselves into something different or better. - Society recognizes the capability of the person to develop, and provides its members with opportunities to better themselves. - Persons can also undertake to contribute to society through their decisions and actions. - *Social movement* - a large-scale action done by various groups and organizations in pursuit of a common goal to bring about change. (Environmental, Youth, Gender, Clean Governance)