THE HUMAN PERSON IN SOCIETY

The objectives of studying this topic is to discuss the following:

 What is society.
 What is sociocultural evolution.
 What are the different forms of society.
 What are the views of Confucius, Plato and Aristotle on the
nature of society.
 Differentiate the views of Hobbies and Locke on why society
needs a social contract.
 How is the individual transformed by society.

1. What is society?
 organized group of people whose members interact frequently and have a
common territory and culture.
 companionship or friendly association with others, an alliance, a community,
or a union.

2. Sociocultural Evolution
 It is the process by which a society’s social structure changes as its culture
and technology become more sophisticated.

3. How individuals form societies?

-The person is by nature a social being because he or she has the tendency to
go out of himself or herself to form bonds and relationships with others. 
 The fact that we do not need to do our activities alone. 
 The experiences of an individual as he/she grows through interactions with
other people in different settings. 
 The natural desire for goodness.
 Pursuit of a common goal.
 The human desire to achieve the goal of survival. 
 The concept of common good.

The Different Forms of Societies

Hunting and Gathering Society

 earliest and simplest form of society.
 small size. 
 composed mainly of families. 
 Nomadic
Pastoral Society 
 domestication of animals for food. 
 have larger populations than hunting and gathering societies. 
 remain longer in one place. 
 produce surplus food and resources.

Horticultural Society 
 small-scale cultivation of plants, fruits, and vegetables and the domestication
of animals.
 semi-nomadic. 
 similar to the pastoral society, there is also a surplus of goods  assignment
of tasks and occupations were often based on gender

Agrarian or Agricultural Society 

 a further evolution of the pastoral and horticultural societies. 
 large-scale and long-term cultivation of crops and domestication of animals.

 have improve technology and the use of tools to aid in farming. 
 have increased production, giving rise to a growing population.

Feudal Society 
 based on the ownership of land. 
 Organized based on status. 
 Social relations: dependence
 - Lord depends vassals’ resources. Vassals depend peasants’ service.
Peasants depend vassals’ protection.

Industrial Society 
 use of specialized machinery in the production of goods and services. 
 technological advances brought about by industrial revolution resulted in
improved trade and commerce. 
 greater inequalities in wealth, power, and influence. 
 people interact with individuals from different social settings.

Post-Industrial Society 
 based on knowledge, information, and the sale of services. 
 led by human mind, aided by highly advance technology. 
 generation, storage, manipulation, and sale of information. 
 members of society: have higher educational attainment, better training and
specialized roles
Virtual Society 
 organized people through communication technology and internet  a
product of a post-industrial society. 
 engage in a complex relationships. 
 do not necessarily subscribe to certain norms or established standards of
behavior.

The views of Confucius, Plato and Aristotle on the nature of

society.

 Confucius
 Society should be based on virtue.

 Plato
 Society should be based on function and harmony.

 Aristotle
 Society is the natural state of humanity.

 The views of Hobbes and Locke on why society needs a

social contract

 Hobbes
 Society needs a social contract to coexist peacefully.

 John Locke
 Society Needs a social contract to protect natural rights.

4. How individuals are transformed by societies?

-It is through our interactions with other individuals and institutions that we begin
to adopt the traits, traditions,and characteristics. 
 Experiencing a variety of relationships. 
 Interactions within society. 
 Society and its various aspects provide support that ensures the
development of the human person.-education, opportunities, unique traits
and characteristics. 
 You adopt the prevailing culture, identity, values, ideas, and knowledge of the
persons, groups, and communities that surround us. 
 The various groups and institutions in society that have contributed to our
identity as a person. 
 The interactions with your family, friends, schoolmates, teachers, and other
people in your community have all left inedible marks on your identity.
 Its ability to define the relationships and interactions among its members.
 Society influences the interactions of its members through the establishments
of norms. 
 Our continuous interactions and relations with different social classes,
groups, and social institutions contribute to shaping our view of the world and
defining our identity. 
 The historical development of society has brought about significant changes
in the way human beings relate to each other. 
 Society shapes us is through social values, which are actions or ideals that
are considered important and vital to maintaining an orderly society.
 Other aspects of society that contribute to the formation of the individual
include language, religion, and historical events.

5. How does society enable me to become a better person?

-As much as we are influenced by our surroundings, our physical limits, and our
society, our personhood still provides us an opportunity to transcend and define
ourselves on our own terms.

 Society recognizes the capability of the person to develop, and

provides its members with opportunities to better themselves. 
 Effective and efficient public service, education, and the maintenance of
peace and order ensures productive lives and realize our potential. 
 Various institutions and groups develop well-adjusted and productive
members, promote individual dignity of persons and guarantees that they are
able to live harmoniously with others. 
 Social systems ensures welfare of the person in society.

 Apart from choosing not to be fully defined by society, Persons can

also undertake to contribute to society through their decisions and
actions.
 A person can contribute to a social change by enacting and upholding his or
her social responsibilities well.

 Upholding common good and welfare in respective societies. 

 support democratic values 
 cooperate with members of the community and other institutions  uphold
values and goals of their respective societies 
 continues to be oriented toward what is good and beneficial for all

 An individual’s actions can also cause great changes in society. 

 Numerous opportunities provided nowadays by improved technology and
access to information, have given ordinary people (non-political/non-
influential) the means to be sources of social change themselves.

Prepared by:
Alex Sabellano
Danish Anire
Niño Lhar Caraga