Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

THE HUMAN PERSON

IN SOCIETY
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Recognize how individuals form societies and
how individuals are transformed by societies
2. Compare different forms of societies and
individualities
3. Explain how human relations are transformed by
social systems
4. Evaluate how social systems transform human
relationships, and how societies transform
individual human beings.
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 ACTIVITY 3: YOU COMPLETE ME
Complete the statements below. Place your answer in a ½
sheet of paper.
1. In my family, I am the ________________________.
2. My family has made me______________________.
3. In my school, I consider myself _____________________.
4. My school has helped me
become____________________.
5. In my community, I am a __________________________.
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The Human Person in the
society plays a vital role in
promoting the universal idea
that humans have roles and
responsibilities in their
respective community and in
the society as a whole.

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THE HUMAN PERSON
IN SOCIETY

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 WHAT IS SOCIETY?
WHAT DRIVES HUMAN BEINGS TO
ESTABLISH SOCIETIES?
• The human person by nature is a “social being”.
• Throughout a person’s life, he or she experiences a variety
of relationships that help shape him or her as a person.
• SOCIETY – an organized group of people whose members
interact frequently and have a common territory and culture.
• Society also refers to a companionship or friendly
association with others, an alliance, a community, or a union.

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 WHAT IS SOCIETY?
WHAT DRIVES HUMAN BEINGS TO
ESTABLISH SOCIETIES?
• Philosophers consider society as the product of
deliberate actions by individuals who come together in
pursuit of a common goal.
• As individual persons, members of society are able to
transform themselves and attain development through
their interactions within society. In turn, humans are also
able to influence society through their actions.

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 WHAT IS SOCIETY?
WHAT DRIVES HUMAN BEINGS TO
ESTABLISH SOCIETIES?
• Society and its various aspects provide support that
ensures the development of the human person.
• Society also provides opportunities to further growth in
the coming years.

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 THE SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY
• During the Age of Enlightenment, social philosophers
studied the natural laws that govern human societies.
• Enlightenment philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes,
John Locke, and Jean Jacques Rousseau were among
the most prominent social theorist who tackled the
origins of human society.

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SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY (THOMAS
HOBBES)
• Persons in their natural states are
governed by their desires and those
often lead to conflict with their
fellowmen.
• Society is a 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.
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SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY (JOHN LOCKE)
• Persons in their natural states are
more cooperative and reasonable,
and that society is formed through
the consent of the individuals that
organized it (consent of the
governed)
• Locke’s social contract is a covenant
among individuals to cooperate and
share the burden of upholding the
welfare of the society.
• People have the rights to overthrow
a failed government.
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20XX Pitch deck title 12
SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY (JEAN
JACQUES ROUSSEAU)
• Advocate the concept of “general
will”
• Based on the assumption that the
people have empowered the
government to act on their behalf,
and that it is considered to be the
best judge of what is most beneficial
for society.

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SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY (JOHN
RAWLS)
• Human beings approach social
cooperation in a rational manner in
order to meet their individual self-
interests.
• Introduced the concept of original
position in which he imagined humans
as having a “veil of ignorance” –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 to look out for
their own interests. 14
• Although there are variations on the social contract theory, one
common feature they all have is that 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 society is founded on the concept of
the common good
• The common good refers to the social conditions which enable
persons and groups to fulfill their goals and achieve well-being.
Example: peace within community, clean and safe public spaces,
efficient transport system, and efficient public service

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 WHAT ARE THE
DIFFERENT FORMS OF
SOCIETIES?

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HUNTING AND GATHERING SOCIETY
• Recognized as the earliest
and simplest form of
society
• Nomadic
• Members are generally
treated equally, and
decisions are based on
consensus.

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PASTORAL SOCIETY
• Characterized by the
domestication of animals for
food for a more stable and
predictable food supply.
• Pastoral societies often
produce surplus food and
resources.
• Leads to the emergence of
specialized tasks in the
community.
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HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
• Primarily engages in the
small-scale cultivation of
plants, fruits, and
vegetables and the
domestication of animals.
• Semi-nomadic
• The assignment of tasks and
occupations were often
based on gender.

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AGRARIAN OR AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY

• Involves the large-scale and

long-term cultivation of
crops and domestication of
animals.
• Characterized by improved
technology and the use of
tools to aid in farming.
• Give rise to a growing
population and a more
structured social system.
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 INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY
• Based on the use of
specialized machinery in the
production of goods and
services.
• “Industrial Revolution”
• Technological advances in this
period resulted in improved
trade and commerce.
• Work is done in factories
• Lead to greater inequalities in
wealth, power, and influence.
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 POST-INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY
• Marked by the establishment of
societies based on knowledge,
information, and the sale of services.
• Trend has shifted from industry to the
generation, storage, manipulation, and
sale of information
• “Virtual Society”
• A digital citizen is a person who is
knowledgeable and responsible
enough to effectively use different
social platforms in the internet. They
often engage in useful topics and issues
that will help build a better society,
politics and government.
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HOW DOES SOCIETY
INFLUENCE OUR
DEVELOPMENT AS
PERSONS?

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• The person and the society have a very dynamic relationship in
which one cannot exist without the other.
• Society influences our development as persons in various ways.
• Society influences the interactions of its members through the
establishment of norms - set of traits and behavior that society
considers acceptable.
• When members of a society do not conform to establish norms,
one can experience negative consequences, such as punishment
or social stigma.
• Norms are one of the ways that society regulates the behavior to
establish social order.

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• Laws- more formal and stringent norms that establish and define
acceptable behavior of citizens.
• Folkways- are less formal norms that arise from tradition and do
not result in punishment when violated. (Eg: dress code)
• Social System- an organized or patterned set of relationships
among individuals and groups that compose a society.
• Social Role- are actions and behaviors expected of a certain
individual. (Eg: being a father, son, daughter, teacher, etc.)
• Social groups or Social classes- group of individuals who share
similar backgrounds or perform similar roles. (Eg: rich, middle
class, poor)

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• Social institutions- groups that perform vital functions in society.
(family, school, government, religion)
• Society also transforms human relations, which leads to the
transformation of its members.
• Social values are actions or ideals that are considered important
by society. (cooperation, obedience to the law, concern for other,
respect for others
• Generation Gap- conflict among people of different ages when
discussing certain topics.

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• Social institutions- groups that perform vital functions in society.
(family, school, government, religion)
• Society also transforms human relations, which leads to the
transformation of its members.
• Social values are actions or ideals that are considered important
by society. (cooperation, obedience to the law, concern for other,
respect for others
• Generation Gap - conflict among people of different ages when
discussing certain topics.

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HOW DOES SOCIETY
ENABLE ME TO
BECOME A BETTER
PERSON?

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• We have the freedom to rise above circumstances and
make ourselves into something different or better.
• Society recognizes the capability of the person to
develop, and provides its members with opportunities to
better themselves
• Persons can also undertake to contribute to society
through their decisions and actions
• Social movement- a large-scale action done by various
groups and organizations in pursuit of a common goal to
bring about change. (Environmental, Youth, Gender,
Clean Governance)
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 ACTIVITY 4: THINK & REFLECT
Describe how the following social institutions influence
your development as a person. Write your answers in the
boxes.

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 Government

Family Religion
ME

School
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THANK YOU