UNDERSTANDING SOCIETY

Submitted by:

Famisaran, Joymi I.
(Leader)

(Members)

Laxamana, Neri Niel

Ducot, Miguel P.

Hungria, Marylou G.

Escalada, Gwyneth M.

Coligado, Ericson N.

(12- Copernicus)

Submitted to:

Mr. David Roy Austria

 II. CONTENT

UNDERSTANDING SOCIETY

SOCIETY- is a large group of people who live together in an organized way, making
decisions about how to do things and sharing the work that needs to be done.

All the people in a country or in several similar countries, can be referred to as a society
(Cambridge Dictionaries Online, 2015)
From this definition, attributes of a society can be derived, namely:

1. Society as a group of people- The group of people entails homogenity or must

have possessed a commonality. The group cannot be a differentiated other with each
member of the group discriminating each other.

2. Society living in an organized way- The very nature of society is to establish

harmony within the group. Defining the acceptability of every action and decision is the
concern of the group.

3. Society with bound space or territory- The definiteness of the space occupied
by a group of people marked the territory of a society. At this point, the questions of
"who is us" and "who is they" are readily established by the territory. If they do not
belong in my group, therefore, they are not part of my society. Ethnic groups are defined
by space.

Origin of societies: Theories and Concepts. Society begins with the creation of man,
thus it can be deduced that the existence of society has its origin from the creation of
man. (Man was design by his creator not to be alone; he was given a partner and was
under the command to fill the earth.

The Platonic Perspective In the Republic, Plato designs a society in order to discover
the meaning of justice. Along the way, he compares elements of society to the three
souls: the peasants are the foundation of society. They till the soil and produces goods,
i.e. take care of society’s basic appetites. The warrior represent the spirit and courage
of the society. And philosopher kings guide the society, as reason guides our lives.
The Social Evolutionist Perspectives Evolutionist such as Morgan (1818-1881),
Durkheim (1858-1917) and many more argued that the formation of society is trough
evolution. Evolution is the process by which species of organisms arise from earlier life
forms undergo change over time through natural selection. In other words, evolution is
the term us to denote changes or transition of something over time. In this Concept,
change is linear. Morgan for instance traced the formation of government starting from
individual tribes and the confederacy of tribes which constituted people or nation.
Furthermore, on the basis for morality and acceptability of action evolved thru time,
Durkheim explained that social order presupposes morality, which is expressed in
certain form of prohibitions either against certain action or certain period or both.

SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORISTS

 the origin of the society

 the social contract theory is the concept that human beings have made an
AGREEMENT with their government
 according to this theory all men are born free and equal

Thomas Hobbes

 society came into being as a means for the protection of men against the
consequences of their own nature.
 Hobbes human nature is to be selfish and we must be controlled.
 state of nature: "The life of man was solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short" -
Thomas Hobbes • People will live in peace, without rights.
 Give up rights for security.

John Locke – He believed that a man in state of nature is enjoying an ideal liberty free
from all sorts of rules and regulations. The state of nature is a state of peace, goodwill,
mutual assistance and preservation. According to Lock the social contract later on
contribute to the govermental control. The govermental contract is made by
inconvenience of ill-condition.

Jean Jacques Rousseau -The Social Contract wrote that man in the state of nature is
a noble savage who leads a life of primitive simplicity and idyllic happiness. He is
independent, contented, self-sufficient, healthy, fearless and good. Man enjoys a pure,
unsophisticated, innocent life of perfect freedom and equality in the state of nature. but
these conditions did not last long.
STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM PERSPECTIVE

 Argues that society continues to exist in the context of its function, namely:
norms, customs, traditions, and institutions.

(REASONS TO ESTABLISH SOCIAL CONTRACT)

Equality of need

 We all have certain basic needs in common such as food, clothing and shelter.
This is the main reason why hoarding cannot be tolerated in a civilized society.

Scarcity

 Population grows rapidly yet the resources are limited. There is a limited supply
of food, clothing, and shelter just to name the essentials

Equality of human power

 When the first two factors are taken in conjunction with power and legitimization,
society can have a serious problem them. The strong subdues the weak. It is in
the context while where all of us will be in constant war with each other.

Limited altruism

 One solution to the problem is to rely on the kindness of a good Samaritan. But
this will not work all the time for there are limits set to altruism. Though
experience, we know that we are not compassionate to our fellow human beings
all the time.
IV. ASSESSMENT

1. Large group of people who live together in an organized way. (society)

2-4. Attributes of a society (

5. According to this theory all men are born free and equal.

6. Process by which species of organisms arise from earlier life forms and undergo
change over time through natural selection.

7. He believed that a man in the state of nature is enjoying an ideal liberty free from
all sorts of rules and regulations.

8-10. Give at least three (3) reasons to establish social contract.