Man is a multifaceted being. This is manifested in the fact that it operates in various fields. People strive to satisfy their diverse needs, and this leads to the fact that there are quite a few areas for human activity. We will tell you about what areas of human life are distinguished by scientists, what is their specificity and significance.
The concept of life
This concept is used in connection with the maintenance and preservation of human life. In this sense, life is understood as a set of processes that ensure the flow of biological processes in the human body. However, people are not only biological individuals, but also social beings. Therefore, the concept of life is interpreted as our activity in the framework of public life. From this perspective, various spheres of human life are highlighted. And the concept of life is used not only in its literal meaning, but also in an expanded understanding. In this case, it is worth paying attention to the etymology of the term. Its first root denotes the form of existence of matter, but in addition to its biological significance, it has a broader interpretation. In this case, life is understood as the period of someone’s existence (for example, a person’s life from birth to death). There is another meaning of this word - the completeness of the manifestation of spiritual and physical forces. In this sense, life is opposed to existence.
The second root of the term in question is also ambiguous. Under the activity in psychology is understood the meaningful and purposeful interaction of a person with the world. There are several main types of activity: communication, work, play, learning. Thus, this term can be interpreted as the interaction of a person with the world, taking place in various forms throughout its existence.
Biological activity
In the framework of biology and the theory of life safety , this concept is understood as the totality of biological processes that support human life. In this aspect, metabolism is important as a set of chemical reactions that supports the flow of life. Another concept that is associated with biological activity is homeostasis. By it is meant the ability of the system to self-regulate, to maintain stability and dynamic balance. In this interpretation, the main areas of human life include manufacturing and domestic areas. In them, a man earns his livelihood and ensures the renewal of his own resources in the process of rest and labor.
Social activities
In addition to the biological idea of life in the humanities, we can talk about the social aspect of this phenomenon. Within the framework of social relations, reproduction of the population takes place, as well as the life support of people with the necessary resources to meet their needs. Man is not only a biological system. He also exists in society and this makes him a person with specific needs and requirements. To be satisfied, to develop harmoniously, a person needs various areas for the application of his forces. The realization of a person in various fields is a condition for the fullness of his life and happiness. All spheres of human activity should be harmoniously interconnected.
Spheres of life
There are several approaches to highlighting the basic areas in which a person realizes himself and in which he provides himself with the necessary resources and means for subsistence. The traditional approach reveals five areas:
- material production;
- axiological;
- scientific, or production of theoretical knowledge;
- political or public process management;
- social sphere of human life.
Each of the identified areas has its own specific features and plays a different role in human life.
In psychology, it is customary to distinguish the following areas of human activity: physical, social, intellectual and spiritual. Sociologists add to the above areas also legal and political. Each of the discovered areas of human activity reveals a special significance in human life. In the theory of man’s self-realization, 7 key areas of his activity are distinguished: spiritual and personal growth, health, career, finances, relationships and the brightness of life.
Physical sphere
Often this area is called the most important, because it is it that is associated with the continued existence of man. The basic concept of this area is health. A person must maintain his health, provide his body with the necessary resources. However, focusing only on the physical aspects of his life, a person will lose the spiritual and social principles that make him human. Therefore, the physical sphere, of course, is important, but cannot be called the most important in human development.
Social sphere
This area includes relations between people, groups, classes, institutions. Traditionally, the social sphere is associated with public institutions: social services, education systems, utilities, healthcare, etc. The production and reproduction of people requires the satisfaction of various needs. And for this, a person needs various benefits created in various spheres of life. Society is the environment in which we spend our whole lives. Therefore, the social aspects of human activity are associated with the functioning of the main institutions, with the social roles of a person, with his belonging to certain classes and groups. However, society as a sphere of people's life is connected, first of all, with relations between people, although interaction with institutions is of great importance. For human development, it is extremely important to build harmonious relationships with others.
Intellectual sphere
Considering the spheres of human life, it is impossible to ignore the field of the production of thoughts, ideas, images. The intellectual sphere usually includes development in the profession, setting life goals, reflection on the meaning of life, working with emotions, cognitive and creative activities. Also, this area is associated with the consumption of intellectual products produced by other people. A person must develop his thinking, since satisfaction on the existing state of things, his values, and the meaningfulness of life depend on this.
Spiritual sphere
If you ask yourself which areas of human life are the most significant, then in the first place, perhaps, you need to put this particular area. It includes relations and activities in the process of creating and consuming spiritual values, as well as their distribution and preservation. This area includes cultural institutions: theaters, museums, educational institutions, libraries. The components of spiritual activity are the values and needs of a higher order. In the framework of this form of activity, a person generates new images, ideas, produces works of art, new theories and views, norms. Also in this area are spiritual connections between people.
Legal sphere
The condition for the preservation of society is the observance of citizens' rights and responsibility for their violation. Between people, as well as in relations between a person and the state, legal relations are established. They are called upon to regulate relations between citizens, protect their rights and freedoms, and ensure social justice. Regulation mechanisms are divided into prohibitive and permissive. Elements of law penetrate many other areas of human activity. By spheres of life, human rights are divided into civil, social, political, economic and cultural. Respect for rights ensures the legal status of an individual and forms a responsible attitude among citizens to different types of their activities.
Political sphere
Human life requires interaction with the state. For effective existence, society needs management, power is needed. The political sphere of activity is associated with pressure on people in order to submit them to established norms and rules. The content of this sphere is the interaction of subjects (state, political elites, people) in order to meet the needs of people in order, protection, security. The political sphere is also connected with the realization of the rights and freedoms of citizens. The components of this sphere are political institutions, political consciousness, rights and norms, political actions.
Scope of material production
For a prosperous life, people need a lot of material objects that provide comfort and basic needs. The material sphere of human life is characterized by a diverse activity in the production of consumer goods, without which human life would be in jeopardy. This area is often synonymous with the concept of “labor activity”. It can highlight the technical and technological aspect and industrial relations. The first involves the application of practical human skills to create various objects and products. And the latter are a social form of labor, which makes the production process itself possible. This sphere is interesting in that within its framework a person not only provides himself with necessary things and products, but also achieves self-realization, development of his potential.
Scope of production of theoretical knowledge
Asking the question of what spheres of human life modern society includes, one cannot but say about a special sphere - scientific. Since the XVII century, scientific knowledge and development of the world has become an increasingly important area of application of the intellectual potential of man. Scientific knowledge is necessary in order to describe the current state of affairs, find its causes and make forecasts. Scientific knowledge allows a person to comprehend the objective laws of the world. As a field of activity, science is also an area in which a person can realize and develop his potential, achieve self-realization. Also, science aims to offer new ways to meet the urgent needs of people.
Axiological sphere
Acting in various spheres of life, people are also engaged in the creation of values and evaluation of the results of labor, the process of activity, relationships between people. A person in various spheres of life determines the significance of certain phenomena and things. He evaluates how they contribute to meeting the needs of man and society, how they help people realize their potential and achieve their life goals. Activities on the formation of values is usually a group, but at the same time formulated values affect the life of each individual. They allow people to make their lives meaningful and meaningful.