What is society?

Society refers to a large, independent, and organized group of people living in the same territory
and sharing a common culture and heritage. People within society impart to each other knowledge,
skills, and behaviors through their various everyday interactions. These interactions are often governed
by written and unwritten rules that reflect the shared ideas, views, and values, of the members of
society.

Society can take many forms and has evolved to develop various characteristics. The simplest
and earliest societies are the hunting-and-gathering societies that adopt a lifestyle dependent on
resources readily available from their surroundings. These societies are often described as “primitive”
since they utilize the simplest technology. Examples of hunting-and-gathering societies include nomadic
tribes such as the San in Africa and small tribes found in remote locations throughout the world.
Agricultural societies are those engaged primarily in agricultural activities such as farming, fishing, and
livestock-raising as a primary way of life. Industrial societies are centered on mechanized production
and the exchange of goods and services. Modern societies are technologically-advanced societies
characterized by industry, mass production, and advanced communication and transportation. Advances
in technology, meanwhile, have enabled people to establish “virtual societies” that are not confined by
territory and are composed of individuals coming from various social backgrounds. Examples of these
societies can be found in social media, online messages boards, and online games.

Social philosophy focuses on studying society and its influence on the human person. It applies
philosophical concepts in a social context and looks into how social interactions shape people’s
perception, experience, ideas, and values. Topics related to social philosophy include social ontology,
social ethics, democracy, human rights, equality and justice. The ideas and discussions in social
philosophy often influence other social sciences such as psychology, political science, sociology, and

Linguistics.

DISCUSS

1. What is society?
2. What are the different forms of society?
3. What is social philosophy? How is philosophy related to the other social sciences?

How is society formed?

Humans are considered to have a natural tendency to cooperate and organize, and society is a
natural outcome of this human tendency to socialize. During the Enlightenment, social philosophers
pondered on the natural laws that govern human societies, and in their discussions, several
philosophers put forth their ideas regarding the formation of societies.

Enlightenment philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean Jacques Rousseau
were among the most prominent social theorists who tackled the origins of human society. In order to
fully understand the true character of society, they imagined humans as living in a so-called “natural
state,” removed from modernity and civilization.
 Examining humans in their natural state afforded these philosophers an opportunity to discuss
the origins of society and relate them to other concepts such as man’s intrinsic nature and liberty.
Various views emerged to explain the developments that brought about the emergence of human
society.

For Thomas Hobbes, man in his natural state is governed by his desires and these often lead to
conflict with his fellowmen. Society, therefore, is the means by which men seek to control their natural
tendencies and impose order. Individuals who establish societies enter into a “social contract” - an
agreement where individuals sacrifice some of their wants and submit to a higher authority. In this way,
society is able to function and meet the needs of the many, ensuring the survival of humanity.

John Locke proposed his own ideas on the social contract with a different assumption. Unlike
Hobbes, Locke considered man in his natural state as more cooperative and reasonable, and that society
is formed through the consent of the individuals that organized it, a concept 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 run society should reflect
the ideas of the people who organized it. Should this authority fail to uphold its obligation or live up to
the ideas 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 it 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-interests. 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 interests. David Gauthier described man’s self-interest as a significant factor in building and
maintaining societies. People choose to cooperate since it is beneficial to meet their self-interests. But
this selfish interest benefits society as a whole, since the actions of individuals in meeting their
individual needs also further the interests of the other members of society.

DISCUSS

1. What is the role of the social contract in establishing society?

THINK

Summarize the ideas on the emergence of society. Write the required information in the table
below.
PROPONENT MAN IN HIS NATURAL STATE HOW SOCIETY IS ESTABLISHED ROLE OF AUTHORITY,

SOCIAL INTERACTION

How does society influence the person?

Society has a significant influence in almost all aspects of an individual’s life. Becoming part of a
group can often result in significant changes in the prevailing behavior of an individual. Through
socialization, the process by which an individual learns the prevailing behaviors, attitudes, and values
within his or her society, a person adopts a set of ideas and behavior considered appropriate within his
or her own society. Various social institutions such as the family, community, school, government,
church, and even mass media are agents of socialization that mold the personality of the individual.
Socialization is a continuing process that permeates through almost all aspects of human interaction.
Though individuals retain their own unique traits, society directly and indirectly influences certain
aspects of individual behavior, which results in some changes in a person’s views and behavior.

The influence of society in behavior and human interaction was the focus of a classic
psychological experiment known as the Stanford Prison Experiment. This experiment was conducted in
1971 in Stanford University. Twenty-four male volunteers, who were of sound mental state and had no
history of violence, were made to participate in a simulated prison environment in order to determine
the factors that led to prisoners abuse in actual prisons. The participants were divided into two groups –
one group was assigned to be prison guards, while the other group was assigned to play the role of
prisoners. The participants were then housed in a facility which closely resembled a prison and were told
to act out their assigned roles. Over a few days, both groups became fully invested in their assigned
roles and their behavior began to change. For instance, the”guards” began to implement harsh and
abusive measures against the “prisoners.” The prisoners were at first compliant, but then began to rebel
against the guards. Six days into what was supposed to be a two-week experiment, researchers had to
stop it because of the increasingly violent behavior of the guards, the rebellious actions of the prisoners,
and the detrimental effects the experiment was having on the participants.

The researchers who conducted the prison experiment originally hypothesized that the inherent
personality traits of prisoners and guards were a factor in abusive behavior in prisons. However, what
was revealed by the experiment was, given a set of conditions and an atmosphere that was permissive
of abuse, normal humans will tend to behave in an abusive way. There has been much discussion
regarding the ethics of the Stanford Prison Experiment and whether it was conducted in a proper
manner, but its result have revealed the strong influence of society on individual behavior.

In the experiment, individuals were assigned certain roles and were expected to behave in
accordance with these roles. In society, we are also assigned certain roles based on our social status,
gender, and other traits. Social roles entail a set of expected behaviors that must be performed by a
person. Additionally, people who belong to a specific social group tend to behave a certain away, and
continuous interactions within their group reinforce such behavior. This was seen in the prison
experiment, as the “guards” and “prisoners” developed their own sets of traits and behaviors. The
interactions between different groups within society are often influenced by their views and ideas of the
“other group”, and these determine whether the interaction would be positive or negative. In the case
of the prison experiment, the guards viewed the prisoners with disdain and suspicion, and implemented
several measures to harass and degrade them. The prisoners, on the other hand, had a variety of
reactions: some chose to comply with the guards, while other began to adopt a rebellious attitudes
against the guards. The disharmony engendered by the established society caused its members to break
down, resulting in violence.

A prison environment, however, is only one possible society that exists. Other societies have
more positive effects on individual. Let us consider, for instance, the effect of living under a democratic
society. The normative democratic theory is a perspective which considers a democratic society as
morally desirable. Philosophers point out that living within a democratic society can result in positive
changes in the behavior of individuals. It enables people to imbibe democratic ideals and encourages
behaviors that embody democracy such as the willingness to stand for one’s rights, independent
thought, initiative, the ability to empathize and consider the views of others, and careful decision-
making.

Cultural influences in society also affect individual behavior. Western society is recognized to be
more individualistic and secular and Western often embody these values in their behavior. Thus,
Westerners are more likely to be seen as being assertive and direct in their dealings with others. Asian
societies are more rigid and formal in their social dealings as they value respect, familial relations, and
social status. This, in turn, is seen in the behavior of most Asian people who approach social interactions
with a degree of deference toward other people.

DISCUSS

1. What other social institutions have contributed to your development as a person?

REVIEW
 Society refers to a large organized group of people that share a common culture and heritage.
People within a society share common knowledge, views, and behavior. Interactions within
society are governed by written and unwritten rules that reflect the shared values among the
members of society.
 Human societies evolved and developed into various forms. Hunting-and-gathering societies are
the earliest and simplest societies characterized by primitive technology and lifestyle.
Agricultural societies are sedentary communities that devote their activities primarily to
farming, fishing, and raising livestock.
 Industrial societies are those that employ advanced technology to produce goods and services.
Modern societies are more technologically developed and are characterized by improved
industry, mass production, and advanced communication and transportation. Advances in
technology made possible the formation of virtual societies composed of people from various
places and social backgrounds.
 Social philosophy studies society and its influence on the human person and applies
philosophical concepts in a social context. It also looks into social interactions and how these
influence perception, ideas, experience, and values.
  Enlightenment philosophers have proposed various ideas on the formation of human society.
These thinkers imagined that mankind in their “natural state” tends to come together and
organize themselves in order to look after their interests.
 Hobbes believed that human are driven by their desires and these often lead to conflict among
individuals. Society, therefore, exists to manage the conflicting desires of people and impose
order.
 Locke also believed that humans are naturally inclined to form societies and they are able to co-
exist harmoniously with other individuals. Society is established through a “social contract”
where people agree to sacrifice some of their interests to uphold the welfare of society.
 Rousseau considered the social contract as an expression of the “general will”. In his view, the
individuals who compose society have given the established authority the power to act on their
behalf and impose its will on the people.
 Modern views on society emphasize the capacity of individuals as rational beings to make
decisions that meet their self-interests. The concept of the original position assumes that given a
situation where an individual has no awareness of his or her individual characteristics in a
society, he or she would naturally choose to establish a society which is fair and just to all
individuals. Gauthier considers self-interest as an influential factor in society, since in meeting a
person’s own needs, he or she also furthers the interests of the other members of society.
 Socialization is the process where an individual learns the behaviors, attitudes, and values
prevalent in his or her own society. This process involves various agents such as social
institutions and other members of society. The individual’s interaction with these agents
influences and defines his or her personality, identity, and behavior.
 Society has a significant influence on the behavior and interactions of individuals. Societies
which engender negative behavior will result in individuals taking on negative traits. More
positive societies, however, are able to influence their members to adopt positive traits and
behavior.

ASSESS

A. Briefly explain the following concepts.

2. Social philosophy

3. Social contract

4. Consent of the governed

6. Original position

7. Socialization

8. Social role
B. Identify whose perspective on society the following statements refer to. Write the letter of
your answer.
A. Thomas Hobbes D. John Rawls
B. John Locke E. David Gauthier
C. Jean Jacques Rousseau

1. Man in his natural state is naturally selfish, and this leads to conflict among individuals.
2. Humans, when deprived of information about their own characteristics, tend to choose a
society which is just and fair to all
3. In some cases, the government is able to impose its will on the people.
4. Society is run by a government established by people who share common ideals and beliefs.
Should this government fail to uphold these ideals, it will be replaced by another.
5. Individuals establishing a society agree on a “social contract” where they surrender their
wants and submit to a higher authority.
6. The government has been empowered by the people to act on their behalf, and is
considered to be the best judge regarding what is best for all.
7. A person’s self-interests benefit society because his or her actions to meet his needs and
desires end up meeting the needs of the other members of society.
8. Society is organized by individuals who form a covenant work together in upholding the
welfare of society.
9. Society controls the natural desires of humans in order to ensure order and harmony.
10. Man is naturally cooperative and reasonable.

REFLECT

1. What transformations in social values or traditions have you witnessed in your lifetime?
2. In your view, what is the most significant factor that influences changes in our present society?
3. In your opinion, which Filipino social value should be given emphasis today? Explain your
answer.

APPLY

 Create a photo journal showing aspects of Philippine society that have influenced you as a
person. Present your work in class.
 Research on the experience of migrant Filipinos in other countries. Interview a migrant Filipino
and describe how his or her interactions which foreign cultures affected him or her as a person.
 Look for articles on the effect of social problems on Filipinos. Analyze and discuss these in class.