TOPIC: DEFINING GENERAL CONCEPT OF SOCIAL

PHILOSOPHY
• Nature of Social Philosophy
• Goals of Social Philosophy
• Filipino Concepts of Ideal Society (Jose P. Rizal, Carlos
P. Romulo and Ferdinand E. Marcos)
 DEFINING GENERAL CONCEPT OF
SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY

Objectives:
• To state the definitions of Social Philosophy
from different philosophers;
• To explain the nature of Social Philosophy;
• To identify the goals of Social Philosophy;
• To describe the Filipino concepts of Ideal
Society.
 Introduction
 Social Philosophy is one of the main and
important branches of Philosophy.
 Man is a social animal.
 The entire existence of every human being
is sustained, nurtured, furthered and
developed in all the aspects through the
active cooperation of his fellow beings.
 What is Social Philosophy?
 According to John Stuart Mackenzie, a British Philosopher,
Social Philosophy seeks to explain the nature of society in
the light of the principle of social solidarity. Social
Philosophy aims at interpretation of society with reference to
the norm of ‘social unity’.

 Frank W. Blackmar, American Sociologist, maintained

that Social Philosophy is based upon the general facts
of society. It makes general observations on the nature
of society.
 What is Social Philosophy?

 According to Morris Ginsberg, British Sociologist, ‘Social

Philosophy aims at the formulation of the general
principles of human behavior through speculation on social
phenomena’.
 For Bertrand Russell, British philosopher, ‘Social Philosophy
seeks the conditions in which all the constructive tendencies
of man (such as love and sympathy). Social marriage and
education can provide maximum possible opportunities to
produce the people who can save the world from future
catastrophe.
 Discussion:
Nature of Social Philosophy
 Social Philosophy is Normative.
 Social Philosophy is Evaluative.
 Social Philosophy is Speculative.
 Social Philosophy is Critical.
 Social Philosophy is Constructive.
 Social Philosophy Transcends the Conclusions
of Other Sciences
 Discussion:
Nature of Social Philosophy
 Social Philosophy is Normative
• Social Philosophy concentrates its attention on the
unity of mankind.
• Social Philosophy is concerned with what ought to
be done to realize the norms involved in our social
existence.
• Social philosophy studies the norms that are found
in the society. It suggests the means to realize those
norms through the social institutions such as family,
education, the state etc.
 Discussion:
Nature of Social Philosophy
 Social Philosophy is Evaluative
• Social Philosophy evaluates the various means to
realize common Good.
• Customs, traditions and various social institutions are
means to achieve order, stability and harmony in the
society.
• Social Philosophy tries to expose the drawbacks of
social institutions and the social behavior of people. It
sets the higher ideals for the guidance of conduct in
human society.
 Discussion:
Nature of Social Philosophy
 Social Philosophy is Speculative
• Social Philosophy attempts to understand the
patterns, changes and tendencies of societies.
• It explores philosophical questions about social
issues, social behavior and social values.
• Social Philosophy is not based on empirical
method.
• The ideals of Social Philosophy are a priori. They
cannot be determined from our experiences.
 Discussion:
Nature of Social Philosophy
 Social Philosophy is Critical
• Social Philosophy criticizes the actual social
existence in the light of common Good.
• It points out the shortfalls in the social
phenomena. It tries to find out the logic of the
postulates and the methods of social sciences.
• The Critical function of Social Philosophy
consists in verifying the validity of approaches
and methods.
 Discussion:
Nature of Social Philosophy
 Social Philosophy is Constructive
• The Constructive aspect of Social Philosophy
studies the validity of the social ideals.
• Social Philosophy also seeks solutions to get rid
of all defective tendencies operative in a social
group.
• Social Philosophy not only points out the
drawbacks in the social interactions but shows the
measures to rectify them and thereby improves
social conditions.
 Discussion:
Nature of Social Philosophy
 Social Philosophy Transcends the Conclusions of Other
Sciences
• Emory S. Bogardus, American Sociologist, points
out that Social Philosophy gives broad interpretation
of human personality and society on the basis of the
scientifically collected data on social phenomena.
• Social Philosophy transcends various conclusions
(data) provided by other branches of knowledge.
• It is the study of the most fundamental and general
laws of social behavior and social change.
 Discussion:
Goals of Social Philosophy

 To find out the basic laws which operate in

the society and influence human relations.
 Its aim was to interpret society with reference
to the essential social unity of mankind.
 Its aim consists in discovering the meaning of
the actual mode of existence.
 To formulate rules for ideal social interaction.
 Discussion:

Filipino
Concepts of
Ideal Society
 Carlos P. Romulo Ferdinand E. Marcos Jose Rizal
Living in a world that is Dreamt of a New Society in To make the
fair, secure, and which every Filipino could be Philippines a true
peaceful. A firm believer free to fulfill their potential as province of Spain.
in interstate cooperation human beings and no longer
based on sovereign would Filipinos live in poverty,
equality. hunger, corruption, mass
deception, and violence.
 Conclusion:
“Social philosophy studies the interactions and inter-relations
that exist among men and their groups”. Social Philosophy is
Normative, Evaluative, Speculative, Critical, Constructive
and it Transcends the Conclusions of Other Sciences. Social
Philosophy studies the interrelation of social organizations
and the relation of individual to these organizations. It studies
the structure and functions of social systems and investigates
into their philosophical implications. Social Philosophy tries
to meet all the requirements to maintain social solidarity. It
views the entire mankind as one family which has a unique
kind of fraternity and commitment.
 Implication:
We need to study Social Philosophy because it gives us
deeper understanding of everything about social cohesion,
social progress, social change and social disintegration.
Also, it tells us why people behave the way they do for it
studies the interrelation of social organizations and the
relation of individual to these organizations. Moreover, it
can be of great use by the government to govern the state
effectively for it can be the basis for laws, rules and
regulations of a particular country. Lastly, it may serve as
an instrument to achieved utopia just like what the ideals
express by Rizal, Marcos and Romulo.
 Bibliography
https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/95903/8/08_chapter%202.pdf
https://www.romulofoundation.org/about-1
https://martiallawmuseum.ph/magaral/promises-of-the-new-society/
https://www.academia.edu/8411504/Rizals_Utopian_Society_1998_2014_