Society - is a kind of reality that we do not choose, do not create and can not control, but it controls us, and to some extent controlled by us."Characteristics of the individual in society - what is it?"- You ask.The answer to the question of offering this article.You will be asked to look into this complex issue, to understand for themselves why there is so and not otherwise, and whether we can change anything.
What is society?
characteristic of man in society is quite complex and multifaceted.The Company is a complex formed, like all complex systems, as a result of the interaction of many components of the differentiated parts.More specifically, it is formed by the interaction and interdependence of individuals, following their natural impulses in behavior.Characteristics of the individual in society, individuality and human nature is interconnected.
We individuals, is a complex organized being.The complexity of human nature is reflected in its multi-dimensional constitution, a variety of different needs.Among the many aspects of it are such as self-preservation, the competition, the need for communication, a sense of justice and the desire for freedom.Nevertheless, our behavior is largely irrational, since, despite the fact that man is endowed with reason, the hierarchy of his needs compels us to follow the instinct of self-preservation, competition, regardless of the requirements of truth and logic.Many aspects of human nature, in addition, have a conflict, contradictory.Because of this, we have to maintain a constant and uncompromising struggle, for example, between the desire and the power of freedom, equality and justice.
As the complexity - natural property of any natural phenomena, society as a phenomenon obeys the universal properties and laws change, common to all complex systems.These properties and patterns can be traced at all levels, from the family and ending with national, global organizations.Characteristics of the individual in society should also take into account many factors.
Complex systems are characterized in that they are non-linear, i.e. the reaction of the whole system does not arise from the reaction of its individual parts, and can not be defined as the sum of them.The non-linearity of complex systems associated with two properties: its unpredictability and irreducibility.Such systems can not be reduced because their behavior generally differs from the sum of the constituent parts of behaviors.In fact, when there is a relationship feedback behavior influences the behavior of the whole part, and vice versa.Since the impact on human society, no individual can not be isolated from it.The Company, like all complex systems, acting as a single entity and can not be controlled by individuals.Individuals can only affect it and participate in the various events forming the system, but can not control it.
Complex systems are unpredictable.In nonlinear systems, the slightest change in conditions can lead to unexpected large changes.The society also takes something like that.Various events, activities often lead to unexpected, unpredictable and sometimes undesirable consequences.
Another reason for the unpredictability of complex systems is that they often include an element of chance, as well as the overall characteristics of the individual in society.An example can be offered as follows: as a complex system represent a colony of ants.It may be noted that all the ants go in search of food in different directions.This behavior allows the colony to find a better meal.In human society, there is also the element of chance.Culture, for example, has a large impact on the demands of society, but it can be formed entirely involuntary and accidental turn of events.
Structure of Complex Systems, in general, do not have a strict definition, it is impossible to say exactly what the name.Characteristics of the individual in society - a very complex abstraction.That is, to analyze it, we have to build a simplified model.In the future, we will consider a model of society based on well-known institutional, cultural and socio-economic relations, as well as their interaction and impact on human nature.
social structure
every aspect of society (socio-economic, cultural, institutional and human nature) by itself is a complex association, formed by the union and interdependence of simpler components.Socio-economic order is formed by a combination of labor, social relations and personal activity.The institutional dimension includes public and private organizations.Culture is a combination of knowledge and technology, philosophy and values.Human nature is also formed from the interaction of hereditary nature and its development in a particular individual.Characteristics of the individual in society is therefore called a special term "personality".
Like all complex systems, the company is irreducible.It is a complex whole can not be reduced to any of the aspects characteristic of human society does not characterize a society as a whole.Any explanation of society in terms of one aspect, be it culture, human nature, power struggles or different institutions is incomplete.He, like all complex systems, it is necessary to consider the interaction of different scales, forming a single, irreducible whole.
And, as in other similar systems, its component parts do not exist separately, in isolation but must be considered in their relation to the rest of the whole.
hierarchical structure
fundamental aspect of human social organization is its hierarchical structure.All forms of social organization, from the hunter-gatherer society to a highly developed civilization, characterized by unequal distribution of power and hierarchy.Not all of the same hierarchy.Some have a strong centralized power and class division.Others, such as the Society of hunters and gatherers, are less vertical, more democratic, and may not even have permanent leaders.But they all have something in common: the distribution of power in them is always uneven.There is always the dominant sector, it may be men, leaders, clans, healers and others.
biological reason for the existence of hierarchy lies in the nature of our competition.Competition is one of the many aspects of human nature.And many of its aspects as a conflict between and compete.For example, in nature, we aim not only to compete, but also to communicate.That is, by nature, we should be associated and correlated with other, and at the same time competing with them.Human competition forces us to organize in the structure of the unequal distribution of power.The hierarchy in this case - an inevitable aspect of social organization.
Function society
Unlike organisms or colonies whose behavior corresponds to the function being performed, the general public does not have any particular role.
However, although this is not required, in some cases, social systems have a feature that is mainly determined by the structure of the political system.Social systems with a hierarchical structure work for the benefit of those who stand at the top of the hierarchy at the expense of those below.
idea that society exists for the benefit of each individual, is wrong.The social system can work both for the benefit and to the detriment of a person.The way it will work in a particular case depends on the random and arbitrary historical events.Attempts by individuals to control or to design a system, as a rule, lead to unintended and often undesirable consequences.
it possible to objectively compare different society?
In contrast relativistic belief system can be evaluated objectively and compared in terms of the benefits that they bring to the individual.As mentioned earlier, the system does not have any function and therefore may function as the benefit and the detriment of humans.From this position, some of them are good.Other bad.Some systems are better than others.
good system - one that promotes the general welfare.Poor people bring harm or contribute to the welfare of some at the expense of others, in fact characteristic of a person with other people always presupposes this division.
How can we change society?
What is the characteristic of human society?The answer to it is not so simple.We began this article by saying that a society we do not choose, do not create and can not control, but it controls the life of each of us.Does this mean that it is an independent system that controls the people and expose them to control?Can I change the society in which we live?
theme "man and society" has always attracted the attention of politicians and sociologists.As Noam Chomsky, social system "is not set in stone."There are no reasons why people could not change them.We should be able to choose the social system that will work for the good of the people.Characteristics of the individual in society - a topic that concerns each of us.
However, for various reasons it is not easy to implement.Firstly, some individuals can not change the system independently.Only collective action can lead to changes in it.A collective action is difficult to organize because the individual consciousness, as a rule, set out to be part of the system, and not rebel against it.Second, those who benefit from the system of the least benefit and has the most reason for wanting to change it, the system has the least power.
The extent to which a person should be responsible for the society?
In general, the responsibility of the people is very low.After all, if we often have only a vague understanding of his own nature, and the ability to control it is very limited, so that we can talk about a difficult subject, as a society in human life?However, despite the limitations of liability that have individuals responsible for it still exists.
characteristic of man in society in terms of the degree of responsibility
It is those of us who are on the top of the hierarchy, have the greatest responsibility.They tend to have higher levels of education, health, opportunities, resources and power to effect change.But at the same time, they are least likely able to improve the system.This is because they derive from it the greatest benefits and therefore will resist change and do not support the change, which harms their interests.Besides, the way of thinking of such people as a rule, deprived of the necessary critical and analytical capacity.The higher a person rises in the hierarchy, the more he tends match the system to protect their power.
The following is a person on the hierarchical level, the lower the role of man in society, the less he has the responsibility, as it usually has a low level of education, health, material resources, it lacks the ability and authority to make changes.In addition, such people are often manipulated, they are controlled by those who are above.They have to take care first of all about their fundamental and pressing needs.The theme of "man and society" for them, as it were available.
middle strata of society are almost as responsible as those who are at the top of the hierarchy.The extent of this responsibility is inversely proportional to its verticality, as the role of the individual in society.In order to maintain its power, the tip of the society will try to do so that the middle classes were satisfied (as in the lower hierarchies, she will try to take care of the lower layers).Therefore, the middle layers also benefit from the existing system and its capabilities, resources and unlimited power, and hence share the responsibility with the top of society.Unlike the latter, unable to change the system to have the middle layers of the capabilities and resources.However, in their struggle for power, they tend to adapt to the system and to act in the interests of those at the top, ensuring the legitimacy of the system.Characteristics of the individual in society - this is what largely on their conscience.
Ignorance is no excuse
ignorance, lack of understanding does not release the top and middle layers of society from responsibility.Unlike lower layers, they have the capacity and resources to understand the system and work on it.If the system is bad, then, adapting to it, they contribute to the maintenance of its poor condition.Despite the collective conscience in matters of rationalization, justification or ignoring harm the system, individuals still remain responsible for this state of affairs.Society in human life is important, and we all bear responsibility for it.
In unequal societies, the challenge system does not usually throw people from the higher or the lower strata of society, and that a minority of the middle layer, which decides to defend freedom, justice, equality and the interests of those who are below, for future generations, as well as the environment.While most members of the middle strata of society, tend to quickly adapt to the system, crucial to her are those who do not identify with it, can not put up with it, and who have sufficient education, material resources and effort tochallenge it.
revolutionary changes brought about by these people, often lead to the replacement of one species by another hierarchy (which in some cases is even worse).On the other hand, the steady improvement of the system occurs when the stage serve these people and participate in social development.
