Evolution in social science is a concept closely related to the process of the formation of a biological species of a person into a biosocial phenomenon. There is one fundamental difference between man and animal, which distinguishes him from the entire organic world of the Earth. People live in society, and not just in packs or prides in their natural habitat, but in an artificial environment that people create by adjusting themselves and their biological needs to any corner of a diverse world. Other species adapt their bodies and are forced to undergo natural selection in accordance with their habitat. People change the biosphere for the sake of their social needs, in the process of coexistence with each other. They themselves manage these targeted changes - this is an important feature of social evolution.
Social science associates the biological evolution of man with its formation in the process of the emergence and
development of the social system. And further on, the development of mankind began to be influenced by completely different, not natural factors, which will be described below.
What is evolution?
The definition of the term “evolution” varies with discipline. In general, it is a synonym for development; without reference to the scientific field, means a phased change in the state of something or someone. In social science, evolution is one of the forms of development of society. There are two more forms - revolution and reform. Supporting words that characterize precisely evolution in social science are a smooth, gradual change in society.
In this sense, the opposite of evolution is revolution. The transition from one state of society to another is abrupt, spasmodic. Such a breakthrough can be caused not only by political upheavals, but also by scientific and technological progress, for example.
Society progress and regression
It is difficult to describe these two concepts, the antipode, in quantitative terms, but it is precisely them that are used to determine what evolution is in social science. Observing social progress (or regression), they talk about such momentous moments:
Welfare, quality of life of individuals.
Social security of citizens.
Morality of individual members of society and society as a whole, including the absence of aggression and opposition of individual groups of citizens to each other, for example, racism.
Spiritual development.
Democracy - it is currently considered the highest sign of the political development of society.
Coupled with the previous concept, each person’s freedom of speech, choice, religion, etc., regardless of gender, age, material well-being, membership of a public organization, and other social criteria. All this is reflected in the Constitution of the Russian Federation.
Important factors
It is important to consider examples of evolution in social science in the context of one of several influencing factors that should not be confused with estimated indicators of evolution:
Religion.
The culture.
The political structure.
Economic situation.
Institute of Family and Marriage.
Religion and Culture
Religion and culture in social science belong to different institutions. The synergies of these forces in influencing the development of society in the Middle Ages are an interesting example of the evolution of society. The center of development of the medieval sciences was precisely the church institutions, and the most educated people were the clergy. Despite the persistent stereotype that the church has always pursued culture and science for trying to encroach on its place in the social system, there are many priests among many great scholars.
Politics and Economics
Politics and economics intersect, influencing the development of society as a whole. A striking example is the state budget, which is higher, the better the economic situation in the country. And accordingly, the greater the welfare of public sector employees, socially dependent members of society, for example, unemployed or disabled people living on state benefits.
The higher the level of national income and the lower inflation in the state, the more citizens belong to the middle class, and the poverty level in the country does not exceed 5%. When the economy suffers a crisis, regression sets in in the life of society. A growing number of people fall from the middle class to the poor, their quality of life is steadily declining - this is one of the indicators of the evolution of society.
In connection with factors such as politics and economics, it will be useful to mention the concept of “reform”. It is not an evolution in social science, it is the third form of development of society. This transition of one state of society to another is artificial, most often coming from above.