Society is the next stage in the development of human civilization after nature. Both of these concepts can be considered as matter. However, society, unlike nature, is moving towards the realization of its being. The stronger his progress, the more he isolates himself from the original nature.
The concept of nature and society
Their unity and differences are determined by an inextricable link: society as a result of the interaction of people can depart as far as possible from nature, but it still continues to depend and influence it to one degree or another.
Terminology: nature
The most well-established definition of nature is the whole world around us, which includes a variety of forms and manifestations. It exists outside of human consciousness and does not depend on it, which makes it a unique objective reality. However, if we consider precisely the relationship between nature and society, we have to separate them, and a very concise definition for the first concept becomes "everything that is not society, - part of the material world, consisting of the natural conditions of existence."
Terminology: Society
In turn, society is an artificial condition created by man for existence and development. It is called the social environment, which is correct, but not entirely correct in view of the fact that the social is already synonymous with the public. Karl Marx briefly defined the term in question as the interaction of people, which fully reflects the essence of society. A person lives in society, communicates in it, creates a family and builds his career, creates works of art and culture, and uses its benefits, is an important element of the joint production of goods and services.
Two meanings
Society is described in two different ways: in the broad and narrow sense of the word.
- The first is the part of the material world, which "is not nature."
- The second is a social group or a certain stage of development (in historical terms).
It is easy to guess that within the framework of the subject under consideration, attention is focused on the first definition.
Society and nature
It should be understood that the main difference between nature and society is that the first is natural, independent of people, which arose much earlier, while the second is a purely social phenomenon. They say that society is a separate part of the world. That is, its source is still natural, because it was created by people, biological creatures.
Philosophical views on nature
There are two radically extreme, opposite points of view that express an opinion about nature as a system. One of them presents it as chaos, a kingdom of chance, not obeying the laws. And the other, on the contrary, argues that the rules by which everything natural interacts are very strict and precise, but also complex. That is why a person, being part of it, is subject to this domination, but is not able to fully understand it.
To the second opinion, there is strong evidence in the form of the natural harmony of nature. No wonder people in their creations always tried to imitate her: they were inspired by objects, took ideas, studied patterns in order to use them to their advantage.
It is interesting that, however, nature has not at all times been perceived as the goal of human production. Antiquity strove to be a single mechanism with it, and to objectify it only as an object of observation.
Nature is the basis of the life of society
In terms of human impact, social is superior to biological. But the ratio when considering the life of each of these environments is in favor of nature. It becomes a natural basis.
Society, unlike nature, forms the behavioral psyche, acts as a behavioral factor for the development of personality. But his very vital activity is inextricably linked with natural objects. So, nature is both a subject of labor and a treasury of objects of material production (for example, the same minerals). If society does not suddenly begin, it will continue to function. But not the other way around.
The contradictions of the relationship between nature and society
With the development of society, man is increasingly trying to begin to dominate nature. Currently, it has acquired a planetary scale. But at the same time, the disharmony of these relationships is becoming increasingly apparent.
For example, social reproduction often ignores only the fact that the statement “unlike nature, society is a system” is fundamentally wrong, given that nature is a holistic mechanism in which one element leads the other. Trying to influence only one part of the natural in a positive way, the famous "butterfly effect" leads to a negative in another. The dialectical nature of nature and the diversity of its forms do not negate the fact that it is one. And the harm done to her (sometimes intentionally, sometimes unwise stupidly) ultimately turns into the problems of the development of society itself.
Laws of nature and society: unity and difference
The objective effect of the laws of both nature and society, as well as the indisputable fact that under certain conditions they are necessary, explains their unity. It, in turn, manifests itself regardless of human desires and actions: both of them are realized outside the consciousness of the individual and humanity as a whole, they are in no way connected with whether they know about them, understand, know or try to know.
The difference between the laws of nature and society is tied to time: in the first case, they are eternal or, at least, long-term. In the second, this is a fickle phenomenon.
This is easily explained: the laws of society were created when it began to exist, and will disappear along with it.
The society develops under the influence of human life, which unconsciously creates new laws. Nature is quite capable of developing "on its own."
Unity is manifested:
- in genetics, since man is part of nature;
- structure, since society is a social form of the movement of matter;
- functioning, since the existence of society outside nature is not possible.
The difference is observed among:
- laws of functioning and development (under the influence of a person / outside of his influence);
- natural rhythms;
- antagonism;
- difficulty levels.
Difficulty levels
Society, unlike nature, is governed by the laws of a higher form of motion of matter. The lower form, of course, also exerts its share of influence, but does not determine the essence of social phenomena. In the same way that the laws of biology, mechanics, and physics do not participate in the development of man as a person, this is the competence of social influence.
Society and Culture
Culture is a direct attribute of society. This is a phenomenon that characterizes society, and is inextricably linked with it: one is impossible without the other.
It is also a determining factor in the subject under consideration: in contrast to nature, society creates culture. Therefore, this is a purely human phenomenon, a higher level of spiritual development. After all, only a person can create - just a biological being is not capable of such an act.
Culture is a unique phenomenon, the heritage of the ethnos and the nationalities to which it belongs, a vessel for preserving history, a means of self-expression. She has the property of reproducing herself. Man at the same time acts as its creator, its keeper, its consumer and its distributor.
A high level of culture indicates a high level of development of society. And no matter how striking nature is in its amazing harmony of the material plane, it has not grown to such a spiritual level - moreover, it does not evolve in this direction. No matter how many-sided society and nature, differences, similarities of these two concepts come down to culture.
Causality
At the same time, the relationship of one with the other is logically correct, and therefore incredibly amazing: nature is the basis of society, society is the basis for culture. And each of the individual concepts has the property of self-reproduction.
Thought and Act
Society, unlike nature, is progressing directionally. A man, acting as his main instrument, is called upon to comprehend the processes taking place in society in order to introduce corrections into them. He has the right to do so, since he is also a direct part of it, and, definitely, its creator. Similar privileges in the sphere of influence on nature do not exist in humans. That is why, when they say that society and nature have the following differences, they primarily recall the person — a biosocial being that includes both.
The interdependence of society and nature
A manifestation of the interdependence of society and nature is the environmental crisis. This has already been mentioned in this article: a person has not learned to use the unity of the laws of two systems to the benefit not only of himself or one of them, but of both. He does not consider nature as an integral mechanism, and therefore his actions have a negative effect: minerals irrationally used by society, natural forces that a person can tame but cannot cope with. The environmental crisis is not only a problem, but also the key to solving it.