What is society?The question is simple, but not easy to answer it, because the concept is quite broad and is used as in sociology and psychology, political science, economics, history, law.And each of these sciences suited to this definition for its part and, consequently, gives his own interpretation.Let's try to identify the signs of a society from a vast kaleidoscope of theories and definitions.So ...
first signs of a society - the total area.This kind of physical space, where there is a connection and development (both between social communities and between individuals).The geographic location along with climate significantly influences and traditions, and the level of life and value orientation.It is important to understand that the territory was not always a sign of society.Our ancestors who lived many centuries ago in the caves, often changed the place where lived (area of residence).But society already existed then, as already traced some common agreement and in action: warming up by the fire together, hunted together.Here it is possible to talk about a certain set of interacting and interrelated actions - or rather, the beginning of the development of social culture.This, too, signs of society.
Of course, today this social structure is different: interacting social communities, social institutions, established relationships.There is separation of social groups with similar characteristics and similar interests: middle class, the poor, the highest grade (or students, pensioners, doctors, workers).And every company has a special social, individual, perform the functions inherent to him.For example, the function of the working class lies in the manufacture of certain products, the political elite is busy political management of society, students acquire the knowledge, the doctors help patients.And all of them are interrelated.And regulate these relations social institutions of family, education, property, state, production, culture, religion.
each such social institution plays the role of regulating relations between individuals and social communities in their livelihoods.
institution of the family, for example, regulates the relations between family and marriage, the institution of the state - the political relationship.And the interaction of all these institutions and already defines a multifunctional single sphere.Supported by the division of labor, socialization of the individual, ensures continuity of values with cultural norms.
Social relations are uniquely dependent on positions occupied by social communities, their functional significance.In a totalitarian society, for example, the institution of the state is dominated by imposing their will.The ruling elite concerned about their own interests and, therefore, violated the interests of all other communities.The same social relations dominated by the relative stability (stability).They reflect the social situation of interacting communities (the alignment of class forces), and it changes with the change of regulations (social status).
following symptoms society - autonomy with self-sufficiency.
Autonomy implies the possibility of self-government.As a rule, the society has its own history, system management, territory and is able to create their own social networks, integrating incoming social communities.Here we need self-sufficiency - the possibility of self-regulation without additional intervention from the outside to ensure the continuity of their culture, the reproduction of the population, needs (and spiritual, and material) of all members in this society.
autonomy with self-sufficiency - the concept is far from abstract.In addition, this is perhaps the main features of society.The inability to governments necessarily require interventions from outside.
Socio-cultural unity and common culture - the same signs society.However, it still requires clarification.The complex social systems with different ethnic, religious and other communities (USA, Russia) common culture as such is somewhat distorted.It is wise to understand the community as a process encompassing, unifying, integrating.The main signs of socio-cultural unity lie in a common language, social institutions, moral values of unity (we - the Russians), the unity of the patterns of behavior.
The socio-cultural unity lies a great integrating force, which gives the ability to the socialization of new generations.
