Human Person In Society Chapter 7 PDF

(individual) Forms societies Is transformed by the society Maintaining the idea: intersubjective relations= unfolds social stage Resulting: to...

(individual) Forms societies Is transformed by the society Maintaining the idea: intersubjective relations= unfolds social stage Resulting: to compare different forms of societies & individualities  No man is an island: no man can live alone. If he does: he’s not a human being (Aristotle). He is either a beast or a god. Human beings cannot choose NOT to live & be with other beings Doomed to be with others Exist: need one another despite: DIFFERENCES = SOCIAL BEINGS  Individuals= form relationship Based: shared experiences Form: bond Shape: to be a person of today Widen network later ANTHONY GIDDENS Society: is a system of interrelationships that connects individuals together. Each social relation: is a form – PART OF THE WHOLE (e.g. you are no a wave, you are part of the ocean) Necessary for: Operation Maintenance Success of the society SYSTEM THEORY -projects an image of society formed & maintained by consensus as opposed to conflict and domination 4 Sub-Systems 1. Economy 2. Governance 3. Law 4. Domestic institutions CONFLICT THEORY -power or coercion holds the society together Two (2) Topics: 1. Human Person as Historical Being discusses shift in the understanding of the person in Philosophy 2. Human Person as Political Being intends to show that the person’s involvement in politics in imperative in political life A human person is considered a historical and political being because they are shaped by the historical events and cultural contexts of their time while actively engaging in political systems that govern their lives. Historical experiences, such as revolutions, movements, and societal changes, influence individual identities and values. Simultaneously, individuals participate in political processes—like voting, activism, and community involvement—that reflect their beliefs and impact societal norms. This interplay underscores the dynamic relationship between personal identity and the collective experiences of history and politics. Historical Being Example: A Filipino growing up during the People Power Revolution in 1986, which led to the ousting of President Ferdinand Marcos, is influenced by the values of democracy, freedom, and activism. This event shapes their understanding of civic duty and participation in governance. Political Being Example: A young Filipino citizen voting for the first time in national elections is engaging with the democratic process, reflecting their awareness of political issues such as corruption, governance, and social justice. Their participation is rooted in the historical struggle for democratic rights and the ongoing fight for better representation and governance. In this context, individuals in the Philippines are shaped by their historical experiences while actively participating in the political processes that affect their lives and communities. 1. HUMAN PERSON AS HISTORICAL BEING Contrary to Philosophy: ✓ Sociology understands the human person a social and historical being: Human beings are influenced, if not shaped, by their socio-cultural and historical milieu. What makes a person, a person? by being a rational animal (Aristotle, Western) If not, s/he wanders in the wild like BRUTES: has no culture and civilization. Reason: endowed intelligence (right from wrong)= freedom= to choose or not (noble, good and true) PLATONIC-ARISTOTELIAN ENLIGHTMENT (all of the above) FRIEDRICH NIETSZCHE Reason does not make the person special. Our knowledge of the things around us is only based on our perception of them. And that in no way we can know them what they really are. Why? Because: Our language, words and terms we call them do not express or correspond to their nature, if they have a nature at all. We only made them for our convenience (Ex. Table) So, the notion reason goes beyond the appearance of things, is ABSURD. Reason is just an endowment to other animals. If animals have horns, a person has reason.  JEAN-PAUL SARTE SOCRATISM Existence precedes essence. Only he who knows is Essence is not given prior to our virtuous. existence. Every culture or art or Live an authentic life morality must be based We are being-in-the-world (draw a on reason. world) It follows that we are bounded by the horizon of the world. Nietzsche Heidegger Sartre SOCIOLOGY C. Wright Mills: Sociological Imagination= how human behaviors are formed. Product of socialization: a process when a child assimilates (adapt, blend in) and reproduces the ways of the society. (and this is history) GEORG HERBERT MEAD Family, school, peer groups, media and other organizations and structures in the society are important agents of socialization KARL MARX Religion is the opium of the people. Means that religion can act as a soothing and distracting force that keeps the working class from recognizing and addressing their social and economic struggles, much like how opium can numb physical pain. Marx believed that this could prevent them from seeking meaningful social change. Historical creature shaped by social circumstances. A historical creature shaped by social circumstances refers to an individual or group whose characteristics, actions, and identity are influenced and molded by the specific social and cultural conditions of their time. This concept underscores how the society, norms, and events of a particular era play a crucial role in shaping the behavior, beliefs, and values of these individuals or groups. It emphasizes the dynamic interplay between people and the historical context in which they live. Karl Marx's statement "Religion is the opium of the people" means that religion can act as a tool to comfort and pacify people, especially the oppressed, preventing them from seeing or challenging the real causes of their suffering, such as social inequality or exploitation. Example in the Philippine context: In the Philippines, during Spanish colonial rule, the Catholic Church played a significant role in maintaining the status quo. The Spanish friars often used religion to promote obedience and acceptance of colonial rule, urging Filipinos to endure hardship in exchange for rewards in the afterlife. This religious influence pacified the population, diverting attention from the injustices of colonial oppression and delaying the push for independence and social reform. The phrase "Religion is the opium of the people" carries both positive and negative connotations, depending on the context in which it is interpreted. Here’s a breakdown of each: Positive Connotations: 1.Source of Comfort: Religion provides emotional support and solace during difficult times, helping individuals cope with hardships and loss. 2.Community and Belonging: It fosters a sense of community, creating bonds among individuals who share similar beliefs, which can lead to social cohesion and support networks. 3.Moral Guidance: Many religions offer moral frameworks that guide ethical behavior and promote values such as compassion, charity, and justice. 4.Hope and Purpose: Religion can instill hope and a sense of purpose in life, helping individuals find meaning in their struggles and aspirations. Negative Connotations: 1.Distraction from Reality: It can distract individuals from addressing real social and economic issues, leading to complacency and acceptance of unjust conditions. 2.Control and Manipulation: Religious institutions may exploit beliefs to maintain power and control over populations, perpetuating inequality and oppression. 3.Stagnation of Social Change: By encouraging acceptance of the status quo, religion may hinder social progress and reform movements aimed at achieving justice and equality. 4.Conflict and Division: Different religious beliefs can lead to conflicts, discrimination, and division within society, causing social strife and violence. Summary: In essence, while religion can offer comfort and community, it can also be criticized for its potential to numb awareness of social injustices and perpetuate systems of control. MICHAEL FOUCAULT To emphasize the idea that our Determined by reality identities, knowledge, and behaviors are A product of history not fixed or universal Suggests that our thoughts, actions, but are deeply and identity are shaped by the influenced by the objective, external world around us. specific historical and Our perceptions and decisions are social contexts in influenced by the tangible, real-world which we exist. He circumstances and constraints we believed that power encounter, rather than being solely structures and products of our internal thoughts or societal norms shape desires. In essence, it highlights the role of the external world in shaping our understanding of our lives and choices. truth, knowledge, and morality. Conclusion: 1.Human being is ahistorical being and that her reason makes her a person. 2.Disagrees with the first notion: Nothing is extraordinary in the person (reason does not make her special) 2. HUMAN PERSON AS POLITICAL BEING Philosophy & Sociology understanding of person extends to the debate in political theory (justice, power & authority, rights & liberties, social and equality) : Between liberalism & communitarianism Between philosophes (supremacy of reason) & Conservative critics (transcendental institutionalism) LIBERALISM COMMUNITARIANISM -Individuals are isolated beings Primordially social -It follows that Believes that: they have an inherent rights Social order, customs & traditions are more primal in regulating or -That cannot be shaping the lives of jeopardized in favor of individuals. social life Liberalism emphasizes the individual as an isolated, autonomous being. It argues that individuals possess inherent rights that must not be compromised for the sake of social life. In this view, personal freedom and autonomy are primary, and society should protect these individual rights above all else. Communitarianism, on the other hand, sees humans as fundamentally social beings. It asserts that social structures, customs, and traditions are more essential in shaping individuals' lives. Rather than isolating individuals, communitarianism emphasizes the importance of community and social bonds in defining human identity and guiding moral values. Thus, liberalism prioritizes individual rights, while communitarianism underscores the significance of social cohesion and shared values in shaping the human person. Examples: Liberalism: Freedom of Speech: Individuals can express their views freely, even if they conflict with social norms. Personal Autonomy: A person chooses their lifestyle or career, prioritizing individual freedom over tradition. Communitarianism: Cultural Practices: Traditions guide life choices, like marriage, placing community values over individual preference. Social Responsibility: Strong welfare systems prioritize the collective good over individual property rights. CONSERVATIVE CRITICS (TRANSCENDENTAL INSTITUTIONALISM) CONTEXTUALISM Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, to Kant Adam Smith, Condorcet, & Rawls Bentham Justice: lies in the transcendental Justice: social justice identification of the ideal institutions. Achieved by addressing concrete Meaning: justice is realized when the form of injustices (but not achieving ideal institutions are firmly perfectly just society) x Utopia? established to REGULATE social Thomas More’s Utopia x behavior… Respect individuals’ rights & dignity Context: Right behavior: in the established Just society is realized in institutions actual social agreement Transcendental Institutionalism (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, Rawls): Justice is achieved by identifying and establishing ideal institutions that regulate social behavior. These institutions are seen as the foundation for ensuring respect for individuals' rights and dignity. Justice is realized when these structures are in place and individuals act according to them. Right behavior flows from adherence to these established systems. Contextualism (Adam Smith, Condorcet, Bentham): Justice is not about perfect institutions or a utopia but about addressing real, concrete injustices within society. A just society emerges through practical solutions and agreements to existing problems, adapting to the specific context rather than seeking an unattainable ideal. Examples: Transcendental Institutionalism (Philippine Setting): 1. 1987 Philippine Constitution: Justice is achieved by establishing institutions like the judiciary to uphold citizens' rights and ensure fairness under the law. o Example: The Supreme Court protecting freedom of speech or human rights through constitutional rulings. 2. Human Rights Commission: The CHR (Commission on Human Rights) is tasked with ensuring justice by regulating behavior in accordance with established human rights laws. Contextualism (Philippine Setting): 1. Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps): This welfare program addresses immediate poverty and social inequality, focusing on practical solutions without aiming for a perfect society. o Example: Providing financial aid and education to marginalized families. 2. Labor Rights Movements: Addressing workers' rights and conditions through reforms like the wage increase for minimum wage earners. LESSONS: 1. Person: ought to live a life of dignity, a life befit of a human being. 2. Political beliefs of a person: divergent account & may differ in notion of an ideal society & how to achieve them. 3. Human being: ought to live in a kind of society characterized by justice and peace & EACH is valued (social development is founded on human flourishing- ability to live a good life). IF TO BE ACHIEVED, CORRESPONDING POLITICAL BEHAVIOR IS EXPECTED FROM INDIVIDUALS Philosophical Anarchism Human person does not have moral duty to obey the law. Deliberative Democracy 1.Human person ought to critically engage with the state through the process of lawmaking. 2.People’s participation in politics is imperative. 3.Democracy: recognized that the state is necessary to achieve the collective goals of society. AGREEMENT IS REACHED THROUGH PUBLIC DISCOURSE PHILOSOPHICAL ANARCHISM DEMOCRACY Proposes a Encourages withdrawal from public life public life Sees the law and Laws and state: the state as: rational and coercive coercive instruments Philosophical Anarchism: Philosophical anarchism advocates for withdrawing from public life, viewing laws and the state as coercive tools that restrict individual freedom. It questions the legitimacy of state authority and emphasizes personal autonomy over obedience to laws. Democracy: Democracy encourages active participation in public life, seeing laws and the state as both rational and necessary to ensure order and justice. While laws are coercive, they are justified as tools for collective decision-making and protecting the common good through democratic processes. Philosophical Anarchism (Philippine Setting): 1. Refusal to Vote or Participate in Government: Some individuals in the Philippines choose not to vote or participate in political processes, seeing government as inherently coercive or corrupt. o Example: A segment of the population may abstain from voting in national elections, expressing disillusionment with the political system. 2. Activist Movements Practicing Civil Disobedience: Groups like environmental activists or indigenous peoples might resist government projects, rejecting state authority over their ancestral lands. o Example: Indigenous groups protesting large-scale mining by blocking roads or refusing government permits, seeing state laws as oppressive to their way of life. Democracy (Philippine Setting): 1. Participation in Elections: Active voting and campaigning during local and national elections demonstrate democratic engagement. o Example: Millions of Filipinos voting in the national elections to elect the President, Senators, and other officials, reflecting their belief in shaping laws and policies through democratic processes. 2. People Power Movement: The 1986 People Power Revolution is a prime example of democracy in action, where Filipinos peacefully protested to oust a dictatorship and restore democratic governance. o Example: Filipinos coming together to demand the removal of authoritarian rule and the return of democratic institutions.