Society is a system of interrelationships that connects individuals. Sociocultural evolution has resulted in different forms of societies. According to Hobbes and Locke, society is a “social contract” freely entered into by independent and fully informed people. Through socialization, the individual develops an awareness of social norms and values and achieves a distinct sense of self. Classical philosophers such as Confucius, Plato and Aristotle have different views about the nature of society and the role of the person in society.

3. SOCIETY
It is a group of people who live in a particular territory, are
subject to a common system of political authority, and are
aware of having a distinct identity from other groups
(Giddens, et al., 2020).
It is a system of interrelationships that connects
individuals.

4. SOCIOCULTURAL EVOLUTION
It is the process by which a society’s social structure
changes as its culture and technology become more
sophisticated.

6. FORMS OF SOCIETY
1. Hunting and Gathering Societies
2. Pastoral Societies
3. Horticultural Societies
4. Agricultural Societies
5. Industrial Societies
6. Post-Industrial Societies
7. Virtual Societies

8. Hunting and Gathering Societies
These are the earliest form of society.
People survive by hunting, trapping, fishing, and gathering
edible plants.
People move constantly in search of food.
There is no specialization of labor.

10. Pastoral Societies
They rely on products obtained through the domestication
and breeding of animals for transportation and food.

12. Horticultural Societies
They rely on the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and
plants in order to survive.
Technology remains rather limited, people cultivate crops
with the aid of digging sticks or hoes.

14. Agricultural Societies
They rely on the use of technology in order to cultivate
crops in large areas.
The Agricultural Revolution led to an increase in food
supplies, an increase in population, and the development
of trade centers.

16. Industrial societies
They depend on mechanization to produce goods and
services.
With the advent of the Industrial Revolution (1760-1830),
no longer did an individual make an entire product.
Instead, there were specialization of tasks and
manufacturing of goods.

19. Industrial Societies
McDonaldization: process by which the principles of the
fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and
more sectors of society (Ritzer, 1993)
Four guiding principles: efficiency, calculability, uniformity,
and control through automation

23. Industrial Societies
Ritzer thus argues that society as a whole is moving
toward this highly standardized and regulated model.
Thus, social life is becoming more homogeneous, more
rigid, and less personal.

24. Industrial Societies
Karl Marx noted that in industrialized societies, the
process of work, which is something that should be
creative and enjoyable for the worker, is distorted.
This distortion causes alienation or the separation of
things that naturally belong together.

27. Post-Industrial Societies
The focus on the manufacture of goods has been replaced
by an increase in service work—that is, work in which
people are involved in providing services for one another.

30. Virtual Societies
These are communities of people sharing common
interests, ideas, and feelings over the Internet or other
collaborative networks.
Examples: social networking, chat rooms and message
boards, and virtual worlds.

31. Virtual Societies
PROS: relative anonymity and absence of physical contact
contributes to openness and freedom of expression
CONS: disembodied relations lack commitment

32. THE NATURE OF SOCIETY
Classical philosophers such as Confucius, Plato and
Aristotle have different views about the nature of society
and the role of the individual in society.

34. Society should be
based on virtue.

35. Confucius
ren - a humane principle rooted in empathy and feeling
for others; at the heart of ren is reciprocity.
zhong-yong – the Golden Mean; variously translated as
moderation, normality, and universal moral law
li - the “rules of propriety” or the moral customs of one’s
society that provide specific guidance.

36. Society should be
based on function
and harmony.

37. Plato
An ideal society must be a type of intellectual aristocracy
ruled by carefully educated philosopher-kings.
A well-ordered society is one whose classes do what they
should do, without interfering with or disrupting the
functions and powers of the other classes.

39. Parts of the Soul Parts/Classes of Society
Appetite Workers
Spirit Guardians
Reason Philosopher-Kings

40. Society is the
natural state of
humanity.

41. Aristotle
State is a creation of nature, and that man is by nature a
political animal.
Family => Village => State
A state has four elements: population; territory;
government; and sovereignty.

42. Aristotle
Outside of society, the human person ceases to be human
(either a beast or a god).

44. SOCIAL CONTRACT
Many theories of a just society begin with the idea that
the state is the result of individuals coming together to
form an organized society for their mutual benefit.
According to these theories, society is a “social contract”
freely entered into by independent and fully informed
people.

45. Society needs a social
contract to coexist
peacefully.

46. Hobbes
Hobbes believed that humans are fundamentally
predisposed to selfishness and destruction.
Humans agree to enter into “social contracts,” by which
they surrender some of their personal autonomy to a
governing authority (i.e., the state), in exchange for order
and protection.

47. Society needs a social
contract to protect
natural rights.

48. John Locke
Locke has a more optimistic view of human nature.
Humans willingly enter into social contracts in order to
create a just society with a central authority (the state).
Just society respects and protects natural rights: the rights
to life, liberty, and property.
The state can be overthrown if it fails to protect rights.

50. SOCIALIZATION
Socialization refers to the social processes through which
the individual develops an awareness of social norms and
values and achieves a distinct sense of self.
Classic theoretical perspectives on socialization: structural
functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic
interactionism.

51. Structural Functionalism
Socialization is a top-down process.
Children learn how to be a part of society by internalizing
social rules and values through socialization and learn to
conform to the roles and expectations of society.

52. Conflict Theory
The individual’s behavior and social relations result from
the underlying conflicts that exist between competing
groups.

53. Society is based on
conflict between social
classes (capitalists vs.
workers).

54. Symbolic Interactionism
The individual actively participates in his/her socialization
through his/her connections with other people.

55. Symbolic Interactionism
Basic premises:
1. Humans act toward things based on the meanings they
assign to them
2. The meaning of things is derived or arises from social
interactions between people
3. Individuals use an interpretative process to understand
and modify meanings

56. SUMMARY
Society is a system of interrelationships that connects
individuals.
Sociocultural evolution has resulted in different forms of
societies.
Classical philosophers such as Confucius, Plato and
Aristotle have different views about the nature of society
and the role of the person in society.

57. SUMMARY
According to Hobbes and Locke, society is a “social
contract” freely entered into by independent and fully
informed people.
Through socialization, the individual develops an
awareness of social norms and values and achieves a
distinct sense of self.

58. QUESTIONS?

60. 1. Delgado, A. (2021). Outline Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person. Cabanatuan City: Diego Printing
Press
2. Calano, M.J., et al. (2016). Philosophizing and Being Human: A Textbook for Senior High School. Quezon City: Sibs
Publishing House, Inc.
3. Chaffee, J. (2016). The Philosopher’s Way: A Text with Readings. Boston: Pearson
4. Corrigall-Brown, C. (2020). Imagining Sociology: An Introduction with Readings. Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford
University Press
5. Gallinero, W. and Estaris, R.J.. (2017). Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person, for Senior High School.
Malabon City: Mutya Publishing House, Inc.
6. Giddens, A., et al. (2018). Introduction to Sociology, 11th edition. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
7. Joven, J.R. and Perez, R.C. (2018). Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person, Revised Edition.
Mandaluyong City: Books Atbp. Publishing Corp.
8. Schaefer, R. (2017). Sociology: A Brief Introduction, Twelfth Edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education
9. Sioco, M.P., & Vinzons, I. (2016). Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person. Quezon City: Vibal Group, Inc.
10. Williams, Y. and Chapel, L. (2015, September 12). Types of Societies in Sociology. Retrieved from
https://study.com/academy/lesson/types-of-societies-in-sociology-lesson-quiz.html