SOCIOLOGY

MAN ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY

HUMAN BEINGS, HUMANS OR MAN
 Humans are bipedal primates in the family HOMINIDAE
 Have highly developed brain capable of abstract reasoning,
language, introspection, problem solving and emotion and this
mental capability combined with an erect body carriage allows
humans to make far greater use of tools than any other species
 They are well spread across the globe holding a population of
6.7 billion as of July 2008
 Like most higher primates humans are social by nature, adapt
systems of communication for self expression exchange of
ideas and organization
 Social interactions between humans establish an extremely
wide variety of traditions, rituals, ethics, values, social norms
and laws, which together forms the basis of human society
HUMAN BEINGS, HUMANS OR MAN
 Humans marked appreciation for beauty and aesthetics which
combined with the desire of self expression which led to
cultural innovation such as art, literature and music
 Humans are notable for their desire to understand and
influence the world around them, seeking to explain and
manipulate natural phenomena through philosophy, art,
science, methodology and religion. This natural curiosity led
to the development of advanced tools and skills as by far is the
only species to have discovered fire, cook their food, clothe
themselves and also manipulate and develop numerous
technologies
 Humans pass down their skills and knowledge to the next
generation through education
 ENVIRONMENT
The natural environment, commonly referred to as the
environment, is a terminology that is comprised of all living
and non-living things that occur naturally on earth or some
region thereof. The terminology and concept of what
comprises the natural environment includes a few key
components-
 Complete ecological unit that function as natural systems
without massive human intervention, including vegetation,
animals, microorganisms, rocks, atmosphere and natural
phenomena that occur within their boundaries
 Universal natural resources and physical phenomena that lack
clear cut boundaries such as air, water and climate as well as
energy, radiation, electric charge and magnetism, not
originating from human activity
LIFE
 Although there is no universal agreement on the definition of

life, scientist generally accept that the biological manifestation

of life is characterized by organization, metabolism, growth,
adaptation, response to stimuli and reproduction.
 Life may also be said to be simply the characteristic state of

organism

CHALLENGES
It’s the common understanding of natural environment that
underlies environmentalism-a broad political, social and
philosophical movement that advocates various actions and
policies in the interest of protecting what nature remains in the
natural environment, or restoring or expanding the role of
nature in this environment.
 SOCIETY
o Population of humans characterized by patterns of relationships between
individuals that share a distinctive culture and institutions
o An economic, social and industrial infrastructure in which a varied
multitude of people are a part. They belong to different ethnic groups.
The word society may also refer to an organized voluntary association of
people for religious, benevolent, cultural, scientific, political, patriotic or
other purposes.

ORIGIN AND USAGE

The English word "society" emerged in the 15th century and is derived
from the French société. The French word, in turn, had its origin in the
Latn societas, a "friendly association with others," from socius meaning
"companion, associate, comrade or business partner." The Latin word is
probably related to the verb sequi, "to follow", and thus originally may
have meant "follower".
 In the social sciences such as SOCIOLOGY, society has been
used to mean a group of people that form a semi-closed social
system, in which most interactions are with other individuals
belonging to the group. Society is sometimes contrasted with
culture.
 For example, Clifford Geertz has suggested that society is the
actual arrangement of social relations while culture is made up
of beliefs and symbolic forms.
 According to sociologist Richard Jenkins, the term addresses a
number of important existential issues facing people:
 Many phenomena cannot be reduced to individual behaviour.
 Collectives often endure beyond the lifespan of individual
members.
 The human condition has always meant going beyond the
evidence of our senses; every aspect of our lives is tied to the
collective
 SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT
 The social environment (context), also known as the
MILIEU, is the identical or similar social positions and social
roles as a whole that influence the individuals of a group.
 The social environment of an individual is the culture that he
or she was educated and/or lives in, and the people and
institutions with whom the person interacts.
 A given social environment is likely to create a feeling of
solidarity amongst its members, who are more likely to keep
together, trust and help one another.
 Members of the same social environment will often think in
similar styles and patterns even when their conclusions differ.
INTER-RELATIONSHIP

ENVIRONMENT HUMANS

SOCIETY
All the three that is human, environment and society are
interrelated to each other as :
 Humans are a part of the environment

 Humans form the society

 Society in turn becomes the part of the environment

Thus as we know that humans are the only species with developed
brains and skills which makes communication an indispensable
need for them to discover, evolve, create, manifest and
manipulate the rules, regulations and forums for a society
whose diversity, stratification and development directly or
indirectly affects the environment at large.