What is a society as a form of human activity? At first glance, this question can be answered with a rather obvious definition. Society is a collection of people, their total mass. However, this explanation is superficial. It does not affect those deep processes that occur within each society. Only by examining this phenomenon in more detail, you can discover the reasons why people are generally united in such circles.
Concept of society
Historically, society as a form of human activity arose at the very moment when the first representatives of the human race began to unite in collectives. Hunters and gatherers began to live together for mutual benefit, to help each other survive in the wild. Gradually, the patterns by which people lived began to take shape. Rules and prohibitions arose. Regulatory standards have made society a sustainable system.
This phenomenon has a lot of definitions. Some of them appeared as fundamental canons of a particular philosophical theory. But, one way or another, any point of view stipulates the functions of society. Such an association is created for adaptation, goal-setting, integration and self-preservation of people. Humanity appeared when it was isolated from nature and began to live in artificial conditions (settlements, cities, etc.). Therefore, society is also a contrast to the wild state of the human race.
Personality in society
Human society as a form of human life has been studied for several centuries. During this time, several particularly popular points of view about this phenomenon were formed. Common is the so-called "atomistic" theory. Its founder was Georg Simmel. This scientist believed that society is not just a mass of people, but the totality of their unique actions.
That is, according to this theory, a person is recognized by the individual. It is the individual that gives rise to society, and not vice versa. This point of view appeared as a synthesis of the ideas of ancient philosophy and the Renaissance, when a person was considered the center of the universe. Human interactions are born out of ambitions, desires and aspirations. Various motives encourage a person to make contact with his neighbor, colleague, passer-by, etc. It is from these tiny strings that society is born as a form of people's life.
Social groups
Another theory of the organization of society says that it is not individual individuals, but social groups. The founder of this idea was the Polish-American sociologist Florian Znanesky. He and his followers identified the term “society” with the term “humanity”. Social groups are formed on a variety of grounds. It can be like-minded people who are trying to realize their venture.
A social group is also built around members of the same profession or class. For example, the bourgeoisie influenced the society of the XIX century, trying to develop capitalism and market relations in it. At the same time, workers created trade unions, defended their rights and defended their interests. These groups had different goals. They opposed each other. But it was precisely the sum of their opposing efforts that gave rise to those foundations of society on which Europe and the USA began to live in the 20th century.
Signs of society
Society, as a system, has several key attributes. The first of these is the territory. It is the basis of the entire social space, in the open spaces of which various interactions and relationships between people appear and develop.
The next sign is that society is a huge force integrating humanity. It creates the conditions for each new generation to be drawn into society through education and accustoming to the norms. A child, and then a teenager, is gradually included in the system of human relations. Even if a person tries to avoid society, he will still be associated with him culture, origin and language.
Society autonomy
The laws of society are gradually changing. This indicates that the system is self-regulating. If new social ideas emerge and claim to become universal norms, they should pass a test of strength.
The course of history itself eliminates unnecessary and ineffective principles of human relations. The norms of society are flexible - they adapt to changing conditions. In the process of evolution of society, people gain historical experience, which they can then use to improve their own lives.
The dependence of man on society
Modern life in society is such that society provides the conditions for self-realization to its most diverse members. This characteristic multifunctionality did not appear immediately. She was born as a result of the centuries-old evolution of society. Today, a resident of every developed country has the opportunity to take the “social elevator” and realize his dream.
But a person not only receives certain prospects from life in society. The individual depends on society. Only inside of it can a person satisfy his needs and acquire everything necessary for his own comfortable life. Society provides a young man or girl with all the conditions to get an education and acquire new skills that will be useful to them in the future. Relations in society are designed so that the system itself helps its members achieve their goals.
Community development
Can every modern society boast a perfect and effective way? Of course, not all countries and nations can pass such a test. Society as a form of human life is in constant development. This system simply cannot be static and stand still, because the people of which it consists carry out any activity.
However, mankind at different times developed at a completely different speed. There is such a thing as progress. Such a process is characterized by the development forward, the transition from simple to complex, the improvement of science, technology, etc. The reverse phenomenon is a regression. It consists in the transition from higher to lower, degradation. In general, society has never regressed. For example, scientific inventions, having appeared once, were never forgotten again.
But it may happen that social development, if it does not turn back, will at least slow down. A similar process is called stagnation. In especially acute forms, it leads to a halt in development. For example, European society stagnated for several centuries in the era of the Dark Ages after the collapse of the Roman Empire.
Ways of social progress
The development of society depends only on the people themselves. The French philosopher and scientist Jean-Antoine Condorcet believed that the main criterion for progress is the building of knowledge. Today this point of view remains the most popular and widespread. On the other hand, one cannot but mention the moral criterion of progress, the supporters of which were Utopian socialists. Such a theory suggested that people should ultimately be organized on the basis of the brotherly relationship of people to each other. In socialist doctrine, this state of society was called communism - a certain point where mankind should strive.
The German philosopher Schelling in his works proved the theory that the main factor in social progress is not the development of science, but the improvement of the legal system. Hegel emphasized the presence of freedom. Only a society freed from slavery and class prejudice can move forward - the famous thinker believed. In the XX century, the development of society was associated primarily with the industrialization and modernization of production.
Modern sociological theories are oriented primarily on humanistic ideals. If people increase their average life expectancy, improve their health status and increase their education level, then society will begin to live more productive and happier.
Abrupt and gradual changes
If people are dissatisfied with the state of society, then inevitably there is a danger of revolution. This term refers to a sharp change in social guidelines and norms. As a rule, society and people in it develop gradually, that is, in an evolutionary way. Sharp leaps caused by popular discontent can appear only in the presence of deep contradictions in society.
To avoid revolutions and bloodshed, society must carry out reforms in time. Reorganization and transformation are factors of the painless and effective development of mankind. If people go this way, they do not have to destroy the whole basis of the social structure of their society.
Gradual development is sometimes referred to as “modernization”. It is also associated with progress in science and technology. The development of society as a whole, and of its constituent people in particular, is especially dependent on them today. With the help of innovations, humanity raises the standard of living and makes society happier.