Philosophy: Reviewer

Lesson 1: How are individuals transformed by

societies?
Understanding the Human Though human beings form a society, this
Person in Society society can also transform individual people.
Transformation made within society is based on their
The old saying "No man is an island" is a interactions within society, and as a product of social
reminder that humans exist as they need one another, influence; it helps to attain development and makes
despite their differences. People tend to open improvements in their living.
themselves to form relationships based on shared As people in society get along with one another,
experiences, which shape them into the person they are the development of new personalities and beliefs is
today. As humans live their lives, they will widen their made possible. People communicate, relate, and help
networks, not just to their immediate family, but also one another in a society and as nature, the survival of
to other people with the same interests. This will lead human beings is rooted in how individual relates to one
to an opportunity to meet new people with the same another.
interests, people who guide and people who care. The ff. illustration will show how individuals
transformed societies and vice versa:
What is Society? 1. Survival. Relating to one another and benefitting
Animals form their group for protection and from one another can mean survival. For example,
safety which is also proven for the human beings; an infant is dependent on his family, imagine if a
however, as we talked about society the very main family does not exist, no one will care for the infant
difference of man and animal, it is that only humans and as result infant will eventually die.
can establish a society. 2. Life outside home. Part of human life is growing
Based on Abella (2016) society can be defined as the and as individuals grow their networks expand as
well; they create friendships in school or at the
following:
workplace.
• An organized group of people whose members
3. Support for development. Education is one of the
interact frequently and have a common
best examples that shows how society supports
territory and culture. development. Education was first learnt at home
• A companionship or friendly association with and later enters a formal education. As learning
others, an alliance, a community, or union. continues, this will also further develop people’s
• The product of deliberate actions by skills and abilities.
individuals who come together in the pursuit of 4. Specific traits and unique characteristics.
a common goal. Since society is formed by its members called
• Can make possible the emergence of certain human beings, their formation equates to the
individualities. creation of shared traits and characteristics that
are only unique in them. For example, Filipinos
• Provide opportunities for further growth in the
valued their family members and “strong family
coming years. ties” is very evident to us.
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The Social Contract Theory Lesson 2:

During the Enlightenment, social philosophers

pondered the natural laws that govern human The Societies and
Individualities
societies, and in their discussions several philosophers
put forth their theories regarding the formation of
societies. (Abella, 2016)
What are the different forms of
Let us determine the different philosophers
who believe that society was formed in different societies?
reasons: Based on Abella (2016) there are various forms
1. THOMAS HOBBES – governed by desires and of societies that emerged include the following:
these often lead to conflict with their 1. HUNTING AND GATHERING SOCIETY
fellowmen. (Abella, 2016) This is recognized as the earliest and
2. JOHN LOCKE – considered persons to be more simplest form of society. It is generally
cooperative and reasonable, and that society characterized by its small size and is composed
is formed through the consent of the mainly of families. They are nomadic because
individuals that organized it. (Abella, 2016) they spend most of their time searching for
3. JEAN JACQUE ROUSSEAU – advocates concept food, thus having no permanent territory. The
of “general will”. Empowered government to hierarchy in this type of society is not very
act on their behalf. (Abella, 2016) varied. Its members are generally treated
4. JOHN RAWLS – redefined the social contract equally, and decisions are usually arrived at
and explained that human beings approach through a consensus. Roles of its members and
social cooperation in a rational manner to the division of labor are not clearly defined.
meet their individual self-interests. (Abella, (Abella 2016)
2016) 2. PASTORAL SOCIETY
5. DAVID GAUTHIER – describes people’s self- This type of society is characterized by
interest as a significant factor in building and the domestication of animals for food or more
maintaining societies. (Abella, 2016) stable and predictable food supply. Pastoral
Abella (2016) added that it was important to communities have larger populations than
note that society is founded on the concept of the hunting and gathering societies and remain
common good and that philosophers who discussed the longer in one place. Pastoral societies often
origins of society traced the emergence of society to produce surplus food and resources, which they
the human desire to achieve the goal of survival. He trade with other societies. This relative
also elaborates that apart from this, human beings are prosperity enables the people to engage in
compelled to come together, establish relationships other activities apart from those necessary for
with each other, and work together as a united group survival, such as handicrafts. This eventually
because of natural desire for goodness. leads to the emergence of specialized tasks in
the community. (Abella 2016)
3. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
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This engages in the small-scale relations among family members and with the
cultivation of plants, fruits and vegetables and other members in the community. People are
the domestication of animals. This type of often very mindful of the hierarchy. They are
society is semi-nomadic, which means that often traditional and are resistant to social
they travel to another place when they have change, preferring to maintain the way things
already depleted the resources in one area. In are in their community. (Abella 2016)
this society, roles and responsibilities are more 6. INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY
clearly defined with many tasks assigned This type of society is based on the use
according to gender. There is a surplus of of specialized machinery in the production of
goods, which sometimes leads to equality goods and services. Industrial societies are
among its members. Family- and clan- often defined by the nature of work and the
oriented, and occupations were restricted by prevailing industry in the area. Capitalists or
tradition. (Abella 2016) business owners are considered the most
4. AGRARIAN O AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY influential. This type of society is also
This type of society is a further characterized by cultural diversity and the
evolution of pastoral and horticultural presence of bureaucratic forms of
societies. Agriculture involves the large-scale organization. Alienation is common in
and long-term cultivation of crops and industrial societies, as people are often seen as
domestication of animals. Improved resources to be exploited. (Abella 2016)
technology and the used tools to aid in 7. POST-INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY
farming are also evident during this period. This society is based on knowledge,
Increased production, giving rise to a growing information, and the sale of services. Members
population in agricultural societies, can also be of this society have higher educational
seen. The large population of agricultural attainment, better training, and specialized
societies leads to a more structured social roles. Virtual society is the product of post-
system that helps manage resources and their industrial society, where people organize
members. The increasingly complex social themselves through communication technology
organization and growing importance of and the internet, it is a product of post-
territory often results in conflicts among industrial society. (Abella 2016)
neighboring societies over resources and land.
(Abella 2016) How does society influence our
5. FEUDAL SOCIETY development as a person?
It is based on the ownership of land. Abella (2016), said that the person and the
Members of society are organized based on society have a very dynamic relationship in which one
status. Those who own land are considered the cannot exist without the other. Society will never exist
most powerful and influential members of without human beings, and human beings can no
society, while peasants are considered the longer survive if they fail to create their own society.
lowest group. Give rise to individuals who value
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From the society that we belong to, people relate with one another for a better
learn to adapt to its culture, identity, values, ideas, transformation.
and knowledge of the group of people and the Society greatly influences human development,
community around them. but regardless of those influences, humans are still
Society influences our development as persons capable of determining who they really are in
in various ways, here are some factors that can which they can still be free to do the things that
influence us: they want to. For example, others believe that once
• NORMS. These are sets of traits and behaviors you come from a poor family you will die poor,
that society considers acceptable and are, thus meaning you cannot do anything for yourself.
encouraged and passed on to other members. One good thing about society is that it helps
(Abella, 2016) in recognizing the competence of the person and
• LAWS. These are more formal and stringent develops it by providing its members with an
norms that establish and define acceptable avenue to make themselves better. And based on
behavior of the citizen. (Abella, 2016) Abella (2016), the social movement, which is a
• FOLKWAYS. These are fewer formal norms that large-scale action done by various groups, can help
arise from tradition and do not result in in the pursuit of a common goal. Society is for the
punishment when violated. (Abella, 2016) people and people are for the society, each one
• SOCIAL VALUES. These are actions or ideals contributes to its greater success.
that are considered important by society.
(Abella, 2016)
Summary:
Various forms of society have emerged
To give emphasis, according to Abella (2016), throughout human history. These societies have given
norms, laws, and other rules that regulate human rise to specific individualities that were defined by the
interactions give rise to a social system, which is an nature of human relations prevalent within those
organized or patterned set of relationships among societies.
individuals and groups that compose of a society. Apart from defining individualities, society
Like in our current situation, each member in also influences the person by defining the
society plays an important role or also known as relationships and interactions that its members can
social roles, which defined as the actions and engage in. Society can define relationships and
behaviors expected from the member of the society. interactions among its members through norms, the
Once an individual is distinguished based on their establishment of a social system, and by upholding
background or roles, they will later be grouped into social values.
individuals with same background and roles thus, Society provides opportunities for its members
the creation of social groups or classes. Classified to grow and achieve well-adjusted and productive
social groups that perform vital functions are members that can make significant contributions to
called social institutions. From the structure society. In turn, individuals uphold the common good
created, we can see that society allows humans to and work to bring about positive changes in society.