SOCIETY
Meaning of Society
The term society has been derived from the Latin word ‘Socius,’ which means a companion, association, or fellowship. It is because man always lives in the company of his fellow beings. This led George Simmel to remark that sociability is the essence of society. The term society is understood in a different sense. In our day today, discussion society is used to refer to the members specific in a group, for example-Advice Society, Harijan Society, etc. some other times, it refers to some institutions like Arya Samaj, Brahmo Samaj. At some additional time, society refers to an association like consumer society, co-operative society, or cultural society. Society is also used in the sense of a group such as rural society or urban society.
In sociology, Society refers not to a group of people but to the intricate pattern of the norms or interactions or relationships that arise among them. People exist only as an agent of social relationships. A mere congregation of individuals does not constitute society. Instead, society refers to the complicated network of social relationships by which every individual is interrelated with his fellowmen. Hence Society is abstract, not concrete, in nature. We can’t touch it but fill it because society resides in the minds of the individual.
Society is a process of living, not a thing, a motion rather than a structure. A system of social relationships is the most important aspect of society. Not all relationships are social. A social relationship implies reciprocal awareness among individuals. This mutual awareness, direct and indirect, is the characteristic of every social relationship. This idea of mutual understanding is suggested in F. H. Giddings’s definition of society, i.e., “a number of like-minded individuals, who know and enjoy their like-mindedness and are, therefore, able to work together for common ends.” Thus, society’s elements exist in the ‘Consciousness of Kind’ of Giddings, ‘we feeling’ of Cooley or ‘a common propensity of W. I. Thomas.
When more than one individual lives together, and a mutual relationship develops among them and different social processes like mutual co-operation, competition and conflict frequently occur in society. The relationships established around these create society. There exists a blood relationship between parents and children, brothers, and sisters.
Voters and leaders are bound in a political relationship. There exists an economic relationship between the customer and the shopkeeper. There exists a social relationship among neighbours. There exists a religious relationship between the priest and the family members. The network of these relationships is what we call society.
To understand the meaning of the term society more clearly and precisely, we just have to look at sociologists’ definitions. But sociologists are not unanimous in their opinion about society. As a result, we come across two types of definitions, such as structural and functional definitions. But these two views are not contradictory but complementary to each other. These two views are discussed below:
Structural views of society
According to the structural view, society is a structure. Accordingly, society refers to folkways' social heritage, mores, ideas, institutions, and habits. Supporters of this view are Morris Ginsberg, F. H. Giddings, G. D. H. Cole, J. F. Cuber, and others. Their ideas are as follows –
According to F. H. Giddings, “Society is the union itself, the organization, the sum of formal relations in which associating individuals are bound together.”
According to G. D. H. Cole, “Society is the complex of organized associations and institutions within the community.”
According to J. F. Cuber, “A society may be defined as a group of people who have lived long enough to become organized and to consider themselves and be considered as a unit more or less distinct from other human units.”
According to Ginsberg, “A society is a collection of individuals united by certain relations or modes of behaviour which mark them off from others, who do not enter into those relations or who differ from them in behaviour.”
Functional views of society
According to functional views, society is a process of social relationships. It considers society as a complex of groups in a reciprocal relationship, interacting among themselves and carrying on an interdependent life and helping each other fulfill wishes. Supporters of this view are MacIver and Page, Parsons, Cooley, Leacock, and others.
According to Maclver and Page, “Society is a system of usages and procedures, authority and mutual aid, of many groupings and divisions, of controls of human behaviours and liberties.”
According to T. Parsons, “Society may be defined as the total complex of human relationship in so far as they grow out of action in terms of means and relationship, intrinsic or symbolic.”
According to C. H. Cooley, “Society is a complex of forms and processes each of which is living and growing by interaction with the others, the whole being so unified that what takes place in one part affects all the rest.”
According to Leacock, “Society includes not only the political relations by which men are bound together but the whole range of human relations and collective activities.”
Thus, from the above analysis, we conclude that society is considered both a structural and functional unit from a wider angle. It is an organization, a system, and a pattern. It is a system of rules and regulations which change with time. Society is a larger group of which an individual is a member. But society is not a group of people only; instead, it is a system of relationships among individuals or groups. That is why Maclver remarked that society is “a web of social relationships.” This relationship may be of different types. But no social relationship could be possible without awareness, and without social connections, there could be no society.
Features / Characteristics of Society
Society depends on Likeness:
The principal of likeness is essential for society. Likeness refers to the similarities. Society exits among those who have the similarities with regards to their needs, goals, outlook and values etc.
Society rests on Difference too:
If men are exactly alike, their social relationships would be very much limited. There would be little give and take, or little reciprocity, if there would no differences.
Cooperation:
Society is based on cooperation. It is the essential part of our social life. Co operation arises when men realize that they have common interests. It refers to the mutual working together for the attainment of a common goal.
Interdependence:
Social relationships are characterised by interdependence. One depends upon the other for the satisfaction of one’s needs.
Society is Dynamic:
Change is ever present in society. No society can ever remain constant for any length of time. Changes may take place slowly and gradually or suddenly.
Culture:
Each society is unique because it has its own way of life, called culture. Culture is not society, but an element of society. Human society constitutes interacting people; while culture is patterning of their behavior. According to Tylor, “culture includes knowledge, law, morals, custom any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society”.
Mutual interaction and mutual awareness:
Society is composed of people. Without people there can be no society, social relationships and no social life at all. Individuals are in continuous interaction with other individuals of society. Society is understood as a network of social relationships. But all relations are social relations. Social relationships exist only when the members are aware of each other. Social interaction is made possible because of mutual awareness.
Social control:
Society has its own ways and means of controlling the behaviour of its members. Along with cooperation, competition and conflict are also exists in society. Hence, the behaviour and activities of people are to be regulated by informal and formal means of social control.
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Features / Characteristics of society
A comprehensive understanding of society requires a thorough analysis of its characteristics. But the term society could be understood both from a narrower and broader sense. In a more limited sense, society refers to a group of people, but it relates to the whole human society in a more general sense. However, society has the following characteristics:
Population:
A society must have a population. Without a group of people, no society could be formed. Of course, society refers not to a group of people but a system of social relationships. But for the establishment of social relationships, a group of people is necessary. This population is a self-perpetuating individual who reproduces it through some sort of mating relationship. Hence it is the first requirement of society.
Likeness:
The likeness is the most important characteristic of society. Famous sociologist MacIver opines that society means equality. Without a sense of likeness, there could be no mutual recognition of ‘belonging together’ and, therefore, no society. This sense of likeness was found in early society on kinship, and in modern societies, the conditions of social likeness have broadened out into the principles of nationality. Society consists of like bodied and like-minded individuals. Friendship, intimacy, and association of any kind would be impossible without likeness. It also helps in the understanding of one by the other. That is why F.H. Giddings opines that society rests on the ‘Conscious of Kind.’
Differences:
Along with likeness differences is another essential characteristic of society. Because society involves differences and it depends on is as much as on likeness. That is why Maclver opines that primary similarity and secondary differences create the greatest of all institutions, the decision of labour. Because of disagreements is complementary to social relationship. If people are alike, society could not be formed, and there would be little reciprocity, and the relationship became limited. Family as the first society based on biological differences and differences in aptitude, interest, and capacity. Though differences are necessary for society, differences by themselves do not create society. Hence differences are sub-ordinate to likeness.
Interdependence:
Interdependence is another essential characteristic of society. This fact of inter-dependence is visible in every aspect of present-day society. A famous Greek Philosopher remarked that ‘Man is a social animal.’ As a social animal, he is dependent on others. The survival and well-being of each member are very much reliant on this interdependence. No individual is self-sufficient. He has to depend on others for food, shelter, and security and the fulfillment of many of his needs and necessities. With the advancement of society, this degree of interdependence increases manifold. Family is the first society based on the biological interdependence of the sexes. Not only individuals are interdependent but also groups, communities, and societies.
Cooperation and Conflict:
Both cooperation and conflict are two other influential characteristics of society. Because famous sociologist Maclver once remarked that “Society is cooperation crossed by conflict.” Co-operation is an essential component of the formation of society. Without co-operation, there can be no society. People can’t maintain a happy life without co-operation. Family is the first society that rests on co-operation. Cooperation avoids mutual destructiveness and results in the economy in expenditure
Cooperation and conflict are also necessary for society:
It acts as a cementing factor for strengthening social relations. In a healthy and well-developed society, both co-operation and conflict co-exist. Because with the help of these two universal processes, society is formed. Conflict makes co-operation meaningful. Conflict may be direct or indirect. However, both are necessary for society.
Society is a network or web of social relationships:
The social relationship is the foundation of society. That is why famous sociologist Maclver remarked that society is a network of social relationships. Hence it is difficult to classify social relationships. But this social relationship is based on mutual awareness or recognition to which Cooley call we feeling, Giddings call consciousness of kind and Thomas as a common propensity. Without these social relationships, no society could be formed as social relationships are abstract, so society is abstract. Different kinds of social processes like cooperation, conflict constantly take place in society. And the relationships established around these create society. Hence a network of social relationships built among individuals constitutes society.
Permanent Nature:
Permanency is another important characteristic of society. It is not a temporary organization of the individual. Society continues to exist even after the death of individual members. Society is a coherent organization.
Society is Abstract:
Society is an abstract entity. As Maclver opines, society is a web of social relationships. We can’t see this relationship, but we can feel it. Hence it is an abstract concept. Wright has aptly remarked that “Society, in essence, means a state or condition, a relationship and is, therefore, necessarily an abstraction.” Besides, society consists of customs, traditions, folkways, mores, and cultures, which are also abstract. Hence society is abstract.
Society is Dynamic:
The very nature-society is dynamic and changeable. No society is static. Every society is always in a state of continuous change. Old customs, traditions, folkways, mores, values, and institutions changed, and new customs and valves took place. Society changes from its traditional nature to modern nature. Hence, it is one of the most important characteristics of society.
Comprehensive Culture:
Culture is another important characteristic of society. Every society has its own culture, which distinguishes it from others. Culture is the way of life of a society member and includes their values, beliefs, art, morals, etc. Hence culture is comprehensive because it fulfills the necessities of social life and is culturally self-sufficient. Besides, each and every society transmits, it’s a cultural pattern to the succeeding generations.
Something more than a mere collection of individuals:
No doubt, society consists of individuals. But a mere group of individuals is not society. It is something more than and something beyond the individual. Durkheim is right when he remarked that society is more than the sum of its part, i.e., individuals.
Accommodation and Assimilation:
These two associative social processes is also important for the smooth functioning and continuity of society.
Apart from the above characteristics, famous sociologists MacIver and Page in their definition mentions some of the elements of society which are described below:
Usages:
Every society has some uses concerned with marriage, religion, education, etc. These usages differ from society to society.
Procedures:
In every society, there are some procedures like modes of action that maintain unity.
Authority:
Every society has some sort of authority. Every member of society has to obey this authority. Some kind of authority is necessary for the maintenance of order in society.
Mutual Aid:
In every society, there exists a feeling of mutual aid among its members. Everyone needs help from others.
Groupings and Divisions:
In every society, there exist several groupings and divisions like family, village, city, etc. which constitute a society.
Controls:
Every society exercises some sort of control over its members. Hence power is necessary for the smooth organization of a society.
Liberty:
Along with control, every society gives some liberty to its members. Some sort of freedom or freedom is necessary for the organization of society. But control and liberty are not opposed to each other.
Thus, society is a permanent institution. Its exact origin is unknown to history. It emerged from the original instincts of man and continues to exist until the existence of man. It is not a mere structure. It refers to the whole system of social relationships. It rests on the state of mind of individuals who comprise society.
Functional Pre-requisites of Society
Society is the most important concept used in sociology. It is the first and foremost social group of humankind. It is as old as human being themselves. The very existence of human beings is tied up with society. When man’s collective life is institutionalized, society came into existence. Different institutions like family, school, and state develop based on the value system. All these institutions constitute human society. The existence, continuity, and preservation of human society require the fulfillment of certain basic functional necessities. These are necessary for the smooth functioning of society, which are known as functional pre-requisites of society. If society has to exist, these pre-requisites must be met. However, human society has the following pre-requisites.
The first and basic functional prerequisites of human society are food, clothing, shelter, security, and defence against the outer environment's dangers. Sufficient provision must be made for the fulfillment of the above basic needs of man.
Coordination of human actions is another functional pre-requisite of human society. Every human being must perform some acts which will help for the smooth continuation and functioning of society. There must be some coordination among human beings in performing different acts. This coordination is possible through the division of labour.
The division of labour is another functional pre-requisite of human society. Different works of society are allotted to individuals based on efficiency. Every society has a clear division of labour among its population based on age, sex, and efficiency. It will also lead to progress.
Procreation is another important functional pre-requisite of society, which will help in the continuation of human society. A new population must replace the old population. Procreation is the most important means of replacing members.
Socialization is another important functional prerequisite of society. New members of society should learn the values, beliefs, and behaviour systems to maintain society's continuity. By this process, a newborn human being is socialized in societal ways.
Social control is another functional pre-requisite of society. This is necessary to maintain and preserve value-oriented behaviours. It exercises some control over an individual and directs him to conform to societal behaviour.
Co-operation among the members is another functional pre-requisite of society. Without co-operation, no society can exist and function smoothly. Meaningfulness of a goal in social life is another functional pre-requisite of society.
Interdependence among society members is another functional pre-requisite of society; without interdependence, no society can be formed. But all these pre-requisites are very closely related and supplementary and complementary with one another.
Types of Societies:
Professional Societies:
These societies are promoted by the professionals to enhance their profession and bring out a common code of conduct. These societies are also termed as associations. They also include information societies, knowledge societies, academic societies and scientific societies, viz., Indian Management Association, Indian Society of Chartered Accountants, Association of Indian Universities, Indian Medical Association, etc.
Charitable Societies:
These are non-profit organizations to help the needy persons of the societies. Sometimes, they are also known as Non-government Organizations, financially supported by corporate and other philanthropists.
Economic Cooperative Societies:
Many societies like housing, agro-processing, credit, marketing etc., help their members in the particular trade, either through their own resources or from the Government. Examples are cooperative housing societies, cooperative banks, district marketing co-operative societies, each helping in marketing specific product like tea, coffee, jute, plantation, etc.
Religious and Cultural Societies:
These societies are formed to revive and maintain specific cultures, traditions and religious foundations. Examples are ISKON, Swaminarayan Temple Trust, Church associations, etc.
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