Understanding Society & Culture, Society and Politics Chapter 1 PDF

 Introduction to culture, society and politics The events that have defined your lives up to the present are a product of the processes and interactions within our society. Social, cultural, and political issues go beyond the news and classroom discussions. Define the concept of...

 Introduction to culture, society and politics The events that have defined your lives up to the present are a product of the processes and interactions within our society. Social, cultural, and political issues go beyond the news and classroom discussions. Define the concept of identity and relate it to society and culture; Define the social sciences and describe its various fields of study; Discuss how each field of the social sciences contributes to understanding society, culture, and politics; Describe how social backgrounds shape views about society and the world; Analyze social, political and cultural change, and give examples of each; Relate their observations on social differences, social change, and identities, and discuss their interrelatedness; and Demonstrate an interest and willingness to explore the origins and dynamics of culture, society and politics Let’s have some drill! Have you ever wondered why some people are different from you and from one another? How will you describe your social background and identities? Try to introduce yourself by telling at least five (5) of your identities. Think of the first five things that come to mind when describing yourself. You can start by thinking of your identity within your family (as a daughter, son, grandson, etc.) and within organizations or clubs that you belong to ( as secretary of the student council, member of the drama club, etc. ) Identity – is the distinctive characteristic that defines an individual and is shaped by one’s membership to a particular group. People may have multiple identities depending on the groups to which they belong.  Social, Cultural, and Political Change The concept of identity is related to social, cultural, and political change. People’s individual and collective identities have oftentimes transformed social order and paved way for lasting change. Example: Elections in the 1990’s that only male can vote and participate in politics.  Social, Cultural, and Political Change Rapidly-advancing technology also has profound implications for socio-cultural and political change. The phenomenon of international migration has also changed Filipino identities and beliefs. It is said that 10 percent of the Philippine population is now abroad as temporary, permanent, and undocumented immigrants. Immigrants - Emigrant  Anthropology, Sociology and Political Science Anthropology – is the systematic study of the biological, cultural, and social aspects of man. It derived from the two Greek words, Anthropos, which means “man” and logos, which means, “study” or “inquiry”. It is a significant branch of knowledge because it integrates elements from the biological sciences and humanities to fully comprehend the complex human species, including their past practices and social patterns, across diverse cultures.  Social anthropology – Studies how social patterns and practices and cultural variation across different societies. cultural anthropology – studies cultural variation across different societies and examines the need to understand each culture in its own context.  Linguistic anthropology – Studies Archaeology – deals with language and discourse and how prehistoric societies by studying they reflect and shape different their tools and environment. aspects of human society and culture Sociology – is defined by Anthony Giddens as “the study of human social life, groups, and society.” it is an academic discipline that attempts to provide a deeper assessment of individual and group behavior, as well as social phenomena, by examining the interplay between economic, political and social factors. Political science – is the systematic study of politics, which Andrew Heywood describes as “the activity through which people make, preserve, and amend the general rules under which they live.” Political science focuses on the fundamental values of equality, freedom, and justice and its processes are linked to the dynamics of conflict, resolution and cooperation. Some political science is further divided into various areas of interest. Public administration – which examines how the government functions and how decisions and policies are made. Political economy – which evaluates the interplay between economics, politics, and law and its implications to the various institutions within society. Comparative politics - which compares domestic politics and governance systems across different sovereign states.