Professional Documents
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Introduction to the
Philosophy of the
Human Person
Quarter 2 – Module 4b:
The Human Person In Society: Social Interaction & Social Systems
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Introduction to
the Philosophy of
the Human
Person
Quarter 2 – Module 4b:
The Human Person In Society:
Social Interaction & Social Systems
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:
This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and
independent learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this
also aims to help learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking
into consideration their needs and circumstances.
In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the
body of the module:
As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this
module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing
them to manage their own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to
encourage and assist the learners as they do the tasks included in the module.
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This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful
opportunities for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time.
You will be enabled to process the contents of the learning resource while
being an active learner.
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1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part
of the module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other
activities included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your
answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through
with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do
not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that
you are not alone.
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What I Know
Pre-Test
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Directions: Read the questions below and write the letter of the correct answer in
your activity notebook.
What’s In
In the previous lesson, we learned about the different social relations and their
corresponding interactions in the society. In this module, we will dive deeper into the
different types of systems found in the society.
Directions: Read the situations below and write your answers in your activity
notebook.
SITUATION 1:
A very good friend of yours visits you and your family in your house. Your
mother, delighted by her presence, cooks her best dish for her. Your friend loved the
whole lunch that she kept complimenting your mother for being such a good cook. At
the end of her visit, she expresses her gratitude to the whole family. Before she leaves,
she approaches your mother and asks, “How much will I pay you for the lunch you
cooked for me?”
SITUATION 2:
You are going through a very rough time. You feel so down that you need
someone to talk to. You send a text message to your friend asking her if she could
come over to make you feel better. Your friend gives you a call then tells you she will
be there in 20 minutes. You are so happy to see her, you give her a big hug, then pour
your heart out. After crying to her for a good 30 minutes, she gives some comforting
words. You finally say that you feel so much better. Your friend then says, “That’s good
to know. Now we’re done, could we settle my expenses for this – 20 pesos for the
phone call, 35 pesos for the tricycle ride going to your place, 20 pesos for all the tissue
paper you drew from my tissue pack, and 10 pesos for the time I lost to working
productively because I have to come here. Thanks.”
What’s New
Directions: Read the questions below and write your answers in your
activity notebook.
3. How are social systems able to control the actions of individuals? Relate it
to your experiences.
___________________________________________________________
4. Is being part of the social group help improve human relations? Why or why
not?
___________________________________________________________
What is It
For Thomas Hobbes, people in their natural states are governed by their
desires and these often lead to conflict with their fellowmen. Society, therefore, is the
means by which people seek to control their natural tendencies and impose order.
Individuals who establish societies enter into a “social contract” – an agreement
where individuals sacrifice an amount of their freedom and submit to a higher authority.
In this way, society is able to function and meet the needs of many, ensuring the
survival of humanity.
John Locke proposed his own ideas on social contract with a different
assumption. Unlike Hobbes, Locke considered persons in their natural states as more
cooperative and reasonable, and that society is formed through the consent of the
individuals that organized it. This concept is known as the consent of the governed.
Locke’s social contract is a covenant among individuals to cooperate and share the
burden of upholding the welfare of society. Also, the authority established to rub
society should reflect the ideals of the people who organized it. Should this authority
fail to uphold its obligation or live up to the ideals of the people, it will be discarded and
replaced with a new one.
Jean Jacques Rousseau’s ideas on the social contract led him to advocate the
concept of the “general will”. Rousseau believed that even if the people are the ones
who organized society and established an authority or government, in extreme cases,
the government is able to impose its will on the people. This is based on the
assumption that the people have empowered the government to act on their behalf,
and that is considered to be the best judge of what is most beneficial for society.
More recent views on the social contract give emphasis to individual decision-
making in society. John Rawls redefined the social contract and explained that human
beings approach social cooperation in a rational manner in order to meet their
individual self-interest. Rawls introduced a version of the natural state which he called
the original position to explain social formation. He imagined humans as having a
“veil of ignorance,” or no knowledge of one’s own characteristics such as gender, race,
or social status. In this state, humans would naturally seek a just and fair society in an
effort to look out for their own interest. David Gauthier described people’s self-interest
as a significant factor in building and maintaining societies. People choose to
cooperate since the actions of individuals in meeting their individual needs also further
the interests of other members of society.
Although there are variations on the social contract theory, perhaps one
common feature they all have is the fact that the different individuals enter into a kind
of agreement with one another to form a society. Individual members put aside their
self-interest in order to create a community where they may live in harmony with
others. It is important to note that in a society, one is not compromised for the sake of
the other; the individual is not in any way violated for the sake of the community and
vice versa. Only a society which endures the development of the individual and his or
her community may be considered a proper and humanizing society.
There are four factors that make up a social system and the relationships
involved in forming it. First, a social system is composed of two or more individuals,
which are called actors. Second, the actors interact with one another physically or in
an environment. Third, the interaction is goal-directed, which means that they are
interacting because they have a goal to achieve. Fourth, the relationship is mediated
by shared symbols.
Hence, social organizations are social systems because they are made up of
individuals interacting for a common goal, where each has a part or function. Families,
organizations, societies, communities, and cultures are recognized as social systems.
Social systems are regarded as open systems. That is, the individuals in a
social system have regular interactions with their environing systems (or the external
The concept structure focuses on the patterns of the system, which may be
regarded as independent of the lower-amplitude and shorter time-range fluctuations
in the relationship of the system to its external situation. It thus designates the features
of the system which can, in certain strategic respects, be treated as constants over
certain ranges of variation in the behavior of other significant elements of the
theoretical problem.
Let us apply this concept in Philippine society. Since its creation, the Philippine
Constitution has remained the basis of governance. In this constitution, all of these
remain constant: division between the legislative and the executive branches of the
government; the independent judiciary; the separation of church and state; and the
basic rights of personal liberty, assembly, and property.
Although society greatly influences the development of the self, the human
person still has freedom to choose not to be fully defined by his or her background or
society. We have the freedom to rise above our circumstances and make ourselves
into something different or better. For instance, a child who grew up in the slums or
squatters area can exert effort, and eventually become successful and achieve a
better life. A person who comes from a family of doctors may feel that he or she has a
different calling in life and thus may choose not to pursue a career in medicine. Some
Filipinos have even decided to renounce their citizenship to become citizens of other
countries. As much as we are influenced by our surroundings, our physical limits, and
our society, our personality still provides us an opportunity to transcend and define
ourselves on our own terms.
A part from choosing not to be fully defined by society, persons can also
undertake to contribute to society through their decisions and actions. One
important way a person can contribute to social change is by enacting his or her social
responsibilities as well. A son or daughter is expected to respect and obey his or her
parents and elders and help each member of the family. A parent is expected to
provide for the needs of the family and raise his or her children well. A student is
expected to study well and participate fully in school activities. A citizen is expected to
support democratic values and cooperate with members of the community and other
institutions to uphold the welfare of the community and uphold the common good. You
embody all these roles and therefore should do your utmost to uphold the
responsibilities that go with them. All members of society are expected to do their
share in upholding the values and goals of their respective societies and ensure that
their society continues to be oriented toward what is good and beneficial for all.
You may have heard of stories that have gone “viral” on the Internet. Many of these
stories come from ordinary citizens who call attention and sometimes prompt the
government and related institutions to take action. Another way that individuals can
bring about social change is by organizing themselves into groups that advocate
certain causes. Organized action is often the best means to bring about changes in
society, and the concerted effort of many groups often bring about a social
movement, which is a large-scale action done by various groups and organizations in
pursuit of a common goal to bring about change.
Are you a member of an organization that upholds a social cause? Have you
ever taken the initiative to call attention to problems in your community? What social
issues are you most passionate about? Do you see yourself making a significant
contribution to society in the future? Taking action to bring about positive changes at
home and in your community is one way that you will be able to fulfil your role as a
productive member of society. In taking action to bring about positive changes in our
society, we are able to fulfil our purpose as human beings who are living and
interacting with our greater community and working toward achieving the greater good.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Directions: Read the questions below and write your answers in your activity
notebook.
1. How does society enable its members to develop and achieve well-being?
2. How can individuals contribute to bring change in society?
3. How can you uphold the common good in your perspective societies?
4. What positive changes have occurred in your community? What brought
about these changes?
What’s More
MY IDOL, MY INSPIRATION!
KWL CHART
Directions: Fill in the K and W columns before studying the topics of this lesson. Fill
in the L column after studying these topics. In your activity notebook, copy and answer
the table below.
K W L
What I know about the What I want to know What I learned about the
social interaction and about social interaction social interaction and
social system and social system social system
What I Can Do
succeed in his plans. Because the focus of a person using another as a means for
attaining his goals is his success, then transactional relationships usually “suspend”
the deeper reality that the other persons, not just mere object for one’s own benefit. In
other words, in transactional relationships, we put aside personal matters in our
interactions, In most cases of transactional relationships, the atmosphere is
competitive.
The Table above shows that transactional relation is treating the other as an
object, a means for attaining one’s goals. That is why it is described as instrumental
or strategic action. In contrast, personal relation is treating the other as a fellow
subject, a fellow person and the action is termed as communicative action.
REFLECTION:
Do you have relationships that have been compromised because of money
or power? Have you been able to revert back to a purely personal relationship after
that? How can you preserve and shield the relationships that matter to you most
from the interest of money and power? Write your answers in your activity notebook.
Assessment
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Directions: Read the questions below and write the letter of the correct answer in
your activity notebook.
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References
BOOK
1. Aleli M. Caraan, DIWA Senior High School Series: Introduction to the Philosophy
of the Human Person (Makati City: DIWA LEARNING SYSTEMS INC, 2016),
pages 128-129, 130 -131.
TEACHERS GUIDE
Most Essential Learning Competencies
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