Society is a certain reality that we do not choose, create, and cannot control, but it controls us, and controls us to one degree or another. "The characteristic of a person in society - what is it?" - you ask. The answer to the question is offered by this article. You will be asked to understand this difficult issue, to understand for yourself why it happens this way and not otherwise, and whether we can change anything.
What is a society?
The characterization of a person in society is quite complex and multifaceted. Society is a complex, formed, like all complex systems, as a result of the interaction of many differentiated components. More precisely, it is formed as a result of the interaction and interdependence of individuals following their natural impulses in behavior. The characteristics of a person in society, individuality and human nature are interconnected.
We, individuals, are complexly organized beings. The complexity of human nature is reflected in its multidimensional constitution, many different needs. Among its many aspects are self-preservation, competition, the need for communication, a sense of justice and a thirst for freedom. Nevertheless, our behavior is mostly irrational, because, despite the fact that a person is endowed with reason, the hierarchy of his needs forces 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 conflicting, contradictory character. Because of this, we have to wage a constant and irreconcilable struggle, for example, between the desire for power and freedom, equality and justice.
Since complexity is a natural property of any natural phenomena, society as a phenomenon obeys the universal properties and laws of change common to all complex systems. These properties and patterns can be traced at all levels of the system, from the family to the national, global associations. The characterization of a person in society must also take into account many factors.
Complex systems are characterized by the fact that they are non-linear, that is, the reaction of the whole system as a whole does not follow from the reaction of its individual parts and cannot be defined as their sum. The nonlinearity of complex systems is associated with two properties: their unpredictability and irreducibility. Such systems are irreducible, since their behavior as a whole differs from the sum of the behaviors of the constituent parts. In fact, when feedback relationships exist, the behavior of the whole affects the behavior of the component, and vice versa. Since society affects a person, no individual can be isolated from him. Society, like all complex systems, acts as a whole and cannot be controlled by individuals. Individuals can only influence it and participate in various events that form the system, but cannot control it.
Complex systems are unpredictable. In nonlinear systems, the slightest change in conditions can lead to unpredictable large changes. Something similar is happening in society. Various events, events 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 characterization of a person in society. An example can be offered as follows: as a complex system, imagine a colony of ants. It can be noted that all ants go in search of food in different directions. This behavior allows the colony to find the best food. There is also an element of chance in human society. Culture, for example, has a great influence on the demands of society, but it can be formed by a completely involuntary and random turn of events.
System structure
Complex systems, in general, do not have a strict definition; it is impossible to say exactly what is called. The characterization of a person in society is a very complex abstraction. That is, in order to analyze it, we are forced 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
Each of the aspects of society (socio-economic, cultural, institutional and human nature) in itself is a complex association formed by the union and interdependence of simpler components. The 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, worldview and values. Human nature is also formed from the interaction of hereditary nature and its development in a particular individual. The characteristic of a person in society is therefore called the special term "individuality".
Like all complex systems, society is irreducible. This complex whole cannot be reduced to any aspect; the characterization of a person in society does not characterize this society as a whole. Any explanation of society from the point of view of one aspect, be it culture, human nature, the struggle for power or various institutions, is incomplete. It, like all complex systems, must be considered as an interaction of various scales, forming a single and irreducible whole.
And, as in other similar systems, its constituent parts do not exist separately, in isolation, but should be considered in their relation to the remaining parts of the whole.
Hierarchical structure
The fundamental aspect of human social organization is its hierarchical structure. All forms of social organization, from the society of gatherers and hunters to a highly developed civilization, are characterized by an unequal distribution of power and hierarchy. Not all hierarchies are the same. Some have a pronounced centralized power and class division. Others, such as the society of gatherers and hunters, are less vertical, more democratic, and perhaps even lacking permanent leaders. But they all have something in common: the distribution of power in them is always uneven. There is always a dominant sector, it can be men, leaders, clans, healers, etc.
The biological reason for the existence of a hierarchy lies in our competitive nature. Competition is one of many aspects of human nature. Moreover, many of its aspects also conflict with each other and compete. For example, by our nature, we strive not only for competition, but also for communication. That is, by nature we must be connected and correlated with others and at the same time compete with them. Human competition forces us to organize into structures with an unequal distribution of power. Hierarchy in this case is an inevitable aspect of social organization.
Function of society
Unlike organisms or colonies, whose behavior corresponds to the function they perform, society as a whole does not have any specific role.
However, although this is not necessary, in some cases, social systems have a function that is mainly determined by the political structure of the system. Social systems with a hierarchical structure work for the benefit of those who are at the top of the hierarchy, at the expense of those below.
The idea that society exists for the benefit of every individual is erroneous. The social system can work both for the good and to the detriment of man. How it will work in a particular case depends on random and arbitrary historical events. Attempts by individuals to control or design a system typically result in unforeseen and often undesirable consequences.
Is it possible to objectively compare different societies?
In contrast to relativistic beliefs, systems can be judged objectively and compared in terms of the benefits that they bring to individuals. As mentioned earlier, systems do not have any function, therefore, they can work both for the good and to the detriment of humans. From this position, some of them are good. Others are bad. Some systems are better than others.
A good system is one that promotes global well-being. Bad brings harm to people or contributes to the well-being of some at the expense of others, because the characterization of a person in the society of other people always involves this separation.
How can you change society?
What is the characteristic of a person in society? The answer to this question is not so simple. We began this article by saying that we do not choose, create, and cannot control society, but it controls the life of each of us. Does this mean that it is an independent system that controls people and is not subject to their control? Is it possible to change the society in which we live?
The theme "man and society" has always attracted the attention of politicians and sociologists. As Noam Chomsky said , social systems "are not carved from stone." There is no reason why people could not change them. We must be able to choose a social system that will work for the benefit of people. The characterization of a person in society is a topic that concerns each of us.
However, for a number of reasons this is not so easy to implement. First, individual individuals cannot change the system on their own. Only collective action can lead to changes in it. A collective action is difficult to organize, because the individual consciousness, as a rule, is set up to be part of the system, and not to rebel against it. Secondly, those who benefit from the system least of all and have the most reasons to want to change it have the least power in the system.
To what extent should a person be held responsible for society?
In general, the responsibility of people is very small. Indeed, if we often have a very vague understanding of our own nature, and the ability to control it is very limited, what can we talk about such a complex topic as society in human life? However, despite the limited liability that individuals have, responsibility for it still exists.
Characterization of a person in society in terms of the degree of responsibility
It is those of us who are at the top of the hierarchy that bear the greatest responsibility. They tend to have a higher level of education, health, opportunities, resources and authority to make changes. But at the same time, they are least likely to improve the system. This is because they derive the greatest benefits from it and therefore will resist changes and will not support changes that infringe on their interests. Moreover, the way of thinking of such people, as a rule, is devoid of the necessary critical and analytical potential. The higher a person ascends the hierarchy ladder, the more he shows a tendency to conform to the system in order to protect his power.
The lower the person is at the hierarchy level, the lower the person’s role in society, the less responsibility he has, since he usually has a low level of education, health, material resources, he lacks the ability and power to make changes. In addition, such people are often manipulated, they are controlled by those who are higher. They are forced to care primarily about their fundamental and urgent needs. The topic "man and society" is as if inaccessible to them.
The middle strata of society bear almost the same responsibility as those at the top of the hierarchy. The degree of this responsibility is inversely proportional to its verticality, as is the role of man in society. In order to maintain its power, the top of the society will try to make the middle layers happy (and in the lower hierarchies it will try to take care of the lower layers as well). Therefore, the middle layers also benefit from the existing system with its capabilities, resources and unlimited power, which means that they share responsibility with the top of society. Unlike the latter, incapable of changing the system, the middle layers have the capabilities and resources for this. However, in their struggle for power, they tend to adapt to the system and act in the interests of those at the top, ensuring the legitimacy of the system. The characteristic of a person in society is that which is largely on their conscience.
Ignorance does not relieve responsibility
Ignorance, lack of understanding does not relieve the top and middle layers of society from responsibility. Unlike the lower layers, they have the capabilities and resources to understand the system and act on it. If the system is bad, then, adapting to it, they contribute to maintaining its poor condition. Despite the collective consciousness in matters of rationalization, justification or ignoring the harm to the system, individuals still remain responsible for this state of affairs. Society plays an important role in human life, and we are all responsible for it.
In unequal societies, the system is usually not challenged by people from the upper or lower layers of society, but by a minority from the middle layer who decides to protect the freedom, justice, equality and interests of those below, future generations, as well as the environment. Although most representatives of the middle strata of society, as a rule, quickly adapt to the system, those who do not identify with it, cannot reconcile with it, and who have enough education, material resources, and strength to make it crucial challenge her.
The revolutionary changes brought about by such people often lead to the replacement of one kind of hierarchy with another (which in some cases is even worse). On the other hand, a stable improvement of the system occurs when these people appear on the stage and participate in the process of social development.