Human-Relations-In-Society PDF

THE HARMONY BETWEEN INDIVIDUALISM AND COLLECTIVISM  INDIVIDUALISM ◦Individualism is how ◦ It encourages selfishness, insofar as the concern of we describe a members are confined within society that their self-interests. champ...

THE HARMONY BETWEEN INDIVIDUALISM AND COLLECTIVISM  INDIVIDUALISM ◦Individualism is how ◦ It encourages selfishness, insofar as the concern of we describe a members are confined within society that their self-interests. champions the ◦ View solidarity movements as freedom of the “sacrifice” of one’s freedom, and the call for unity individual persons. as plagued with obstructions to one’s own development.  COLLECTIVISM ◦Collectivism is ◦ This is generally observed in observed in societies traditional societies, where norms and authorities are that give priority to pre-established rather than unity over the signed up for through a social recognition of one’s contract or agreement. individual freedom.  COLLECTIVISM ◦ In our current setting, collectivism is observed to be more apparent in rural agricultural and tribal communities rather than in industrial urban areas. ◦ Collectivism, however, discourages individual dissenting voices, and as such, curtails critical thinking. For instance, traditional communities often meet critical questions with suspicion and antagonism, rather than welcome them for the sake of growth and development.  It is often said that choosing between individualism and collectivism leaves us with a dilemma, which literally means “two horns” because both are partly favorable and partly a hindrance to something good.  INDIVIDUALISM AND COLLECTIVISM ◦ Martin Buber (1878-1965) and his ◦ An individual cannot be an reflections on the I- Thou individual without the relationship points out that we do not collectivity. Buber asserts that the need to choose one over the other. human person is a being “between “Relation is the true starting point man and man.” for personal integration and ◦ We are here because of those wholeness and for the transformation relationships that surround us and of society”. (Friedman, 1960:208) enabled our growth and ◦ And this relation is best initiated, development. Our sense of developed and preserved through identity is largely formed by genuine dialogue. those who have been in close relationships with us.  INDIVIDUALISM AND COLLECTIVISM ◦ As the social philosopher, Jurgen ◦ A collectivity can not be Habermas, would say in support formed without the of Buber’s point here, cooperative accomplishments individuality is formed through of individuals. intersubjective processes. ◦ A collectivity that does not ◦ As such one need not choose recognize the individuality individuality over the of its members is not a collective intersubjective community but a monolith. world. INDIVIDUALISM AND COLLECTIVISM ◦ When a collectivity does not give room for individual voices, it becomes stagnant and rigid, so much that the only way to maintain order is through the use of violence (totality). ◦ Collectivities can find stability not through the silencing of the voice of individuals, but by providing channels for cooperative dialogue. IMPACTS OF SOCIAL SYSTEMS TO INDIVIDUAL  Advancements of Modern Colonization of the Society Lifeworld ◦ Habermas values the progress ◦ Habermas argues that as social brought by modern societies, systems—like money and where individuals can think for power—become more themselves and claim their dominant, they encroach on rights. the lifeworld, which includes personal relationships and community bonds.  Impact on Personal Transactional Relationships Decisions ◦ In urban settings, many ◦ Life choices, such as interactions become education, marriage, and transactional, focusing on family planning, are practical benefits rather than increasingly influenced by emotional or social connections. financial and societal pressures.  Loss of Solidarity ◦ The decline in community solidarity results from the lack of a unifying force, as individuals are left to forge connections based on their own motivations. CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE ROLE OF INDIVIDUALS IN SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION  Strengthening Role of Civil Society Communicative Action ◦ By engaging in discussions ◦ Civil society consists of and sharing ideas, informal networks, like NGOs, individuals can build that allow people to gather, solidarity. voice their concerns, and advocate for change.  Public Sphere Role Active Discourse and Learning ◦ The public sphere is a ◦ Social transformation occurs space where individuals through active discourse in can openly discuss social the public sphere. issues without fear of being silenced.  Examples of Public Balancing Individual and Transformation Collective Efforts ◦ NGOs like AKBAYAN and ◦ Habermas argues that modern Greenpeace illustrate how societies can address their collective efforts can lead challenges by emulating the to significant change. cooperative spirit of tribal and feudal societies, but with an emphasis on individual initiative  SOCIAL INTERACTIONS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIETIES  SOCIETY ◦ For the social philosopher ◦ According to Habermas, our Jurgen Habermas, a social interactions as a species society’s most basic helped develop two important building block would be realms: the social systems; and the interaction between the realm of the lifeworld. two individuals. At the very least, the interaction of two individuals signals the creation of a shared world (Habermas, 1979).  SOCIAL INTERACTION ◦Material reproduction ◦Symbolic reproduction refers to the utilization and refers to the transmission and distribution of society’s renewal of cultural knowledge, resources for the physical the establishment of solidarity survival and welfare of all and cooperation and the individual members. formation of identities of persons through socialization. Historically, societies developed through a gradual demarcation of social systems from lifeworlds. We divide these stages as follows: 1)the tribal and feudal societies 2) modern industrialized societies  TRIBAL AND FEUDAL SOCIETY ◦ Tribal leaders and monarchs had ◦ Mechanistic model of solidarity control over the social systems of coined by Emile Durkheim- A economy and politics, and symbolic person’s individual consciousness is reproduction of society. very much aligned with the ◦ They hold central roles in the collective consciousness. performance of rites. Their word is ◦ There was still no clear sense of law, which means that they get to individuality among members of decide on the norms that should the society, except for the case of prevail in a society without having to the tribal leader or monarch who deal with resistance from the people. was answerable only to himself or the Divine that ordained him or his power.  MODERN INDUSTRIALIZED SOCIETY ◦ The development of trade ◦ Organic Solidarity- It begins with a (mercantilism) and the emergence of recognition of the differences a capitalist system of economy. among members with an awareness ◦ Culture, social values and personal of their co-dependence. identities were no longer merely ◦ A more particular kind of organic dictated or imposed on individual solidarity is contractual solidarity. members of societies by a dominant It operates on an implicit contract power. The absence of an among members in which they are overarching dominant power enabled expected to fulfill their roles in the the awareness of a person’s own social systems and the lifeworld. individuality and autonomy. EVOLUTION OF SOCIETIES  P R E H I S TO RY P R E C A P I TA L I S M ◦ Marx conceives humans in the ◦ It was an agricultural society— prehistoric society as selfless the period of slavery and the and cooperative beings, period of serfdom. possessing no private property ◦ The powerful amassed lands (everything being owned in and possessed the powerless common), and who went along as their slaves. This gave birth with each other very well. to private property and ◦ The prehistoric society was division of labor, which in paradise-like. turn, gave birth to social classes and the establishment of political institutions.  C A P I TA L I S T COMMUNIST ◦ As the mode of production ◦ Communism is a political theory (industrialization) required it, those that advocates the abolition of who owned capital (the capitalists) private property. became economically and politically powerful. ◦ It is the root cause of the never- ending struggle between ◦ As a result, a new social relation antagonistic social classes: the emerged between two antagonistic classes: masters and the slaves, the lords and the serfs, and the bourgeois ◦ The bourgeoisie was the class of the and the proletarians. capitalists (owners of the means of production) and the proletariat was ◦ Society will be classless. the class of the laborers SOCIAL INTERACTION AND SOCIETY According to Habermas, there are different kinds of social relationships. They differ by virtue of the kind of interaction that takes place between individuals. Social relationships into two main kinds: 1) personal; 2) transactional.  PERSONAL TRANSACTIONAL ◦ It is where interactions are based on ◦ Based on a regard for each a mutual regard for each other as other as means for attaining persons. one’s goals. ◦ As such, interactions in personal relationships are defined by ◦ Where persons are used, not cooperation rather than by necessarily in the derogatory competition. sense, to help one attain his ◦ The focus of personal relationships is goals or succeed in his plans. the preservation and development ◦ In most cases of of the mutual regard for each other. transactional relationships, the atmosphere is competitive. In Habermas’s social theory, society operates through three main spheres: market, state , and the lifeworld. These systems reflect the different ways people interact based on transactional or personal relationship.  MARKET (ECONOMIC S TAT E ( P O L I T I C A L SYSTEM) SYSTEM) ◦ In the market sphere, interactions ◦ In the state sphere, relationships are transactional and driven by the are transactional in a different exchange of goods, services, and way: interactions often involve money. power dynamics, where individuals ◦ This sphere operates on a value- are either in positions of authority neutral “logic of having,” meaning (commanding) or obedience interactions are oriented around (obeying). possessing or acquiring something, ◦ The state functions to maintain often ignoring any deeper human order, often through policies, rules, connection. and sometimes through sanctions, ensuring that citizens adhere to laws for societal stability.  L I F E W O R L D ( C O M M U N I C AT I V E R E L AT I O N S H I P S ◦ The lifeworld encompasses family, community, and other settings where interactions are expected to be personal, mutual, and based on understanding rather than transactional gain. ◦ Within the lifeworld, individuals relate to each other as subjects and uphold each other’s personhood through cooperative communication and shared values. Colonization of the lifeworld by social systems- Habermas argues that problems arise when the market or state spheres “colonize” the lifeworld. This happens when transactional logics—like economic or political control—begin to dominate areas of life meant for personal relationships, affecting how people connect within family, school, or community. THANK YOU!