In this paper I will try to explain the puzzle of whether individuals are products of society or society is a product of individuals. I believe that in general, and in the beginning, the answer to this question, is that society is a human product. I will start by presenting early man, the hunter and gatherer as an early form of society, but lacking critical qualities of a society. Then I will continue to support my theory by analyzing the beginning of known society some three and one half thousands years ago. I will present the individual as creation of society, or more precisely, an ongoing social recursive conditioning. I will also present society as creation of individuals. Finally, I will conclude my paper with some thoughts on the …show more content…
The recording of literature, science, society and history is a lasting legacy of the Sumerians and our society. The individuals in the Sumer originated the development of society through the codes of law that was written as, and to be, social policy. These were the first written laws and law is what defines the norms within our society. This is a defining point as to whether individuals are products of society or society is a product of individuals. Since these individuals conceived what society shall represent, then it is clear that originally society is a product of individuals. It was not only the codes of law that were created by the Sumerians, but tens of thousands of cunieform texts that contain lullabies, poetry, ledgers, administration and property records. The theory that John Locke presents is that man must agree to join society and the community living peaceably and secure in the fact that his personal property is protected by the community by the laws and property records against any that are not of the community. The social concept that began in Sumer would change the face of history. Individuals as Product of Society Society is the unconscious collective of the morals and values of individuals that formed that society, but society is only a word. It was there before the individual was born, and it will be there after their death. Society is not tangible although individuals
In many dictionaries society is described as a community of people living together in a group or nation. Even though it may simply mean that; society is one of the sociological terms derived from a Latin word “socious” meaning friendship or companionship. It is a large grouping sharing the same cultural, social and geographical location. Society consists of people and their mutual awareness and interactions with each other, it is a network of social relationships. Society can be shown as a group of unique individuals who share the same culture and social structure, the members of the society may have different ethnic groups but they share the same society. Society is not a constant it can never stay the same it always changes with the people.
One of the greatest accomplishments of the Sumerians would be their creation of Cuneiform. Cuneiform was the world’s first writing system. Cuneiform was based on wedge shaped characters representing words, but later developed into representing word sounds and concepts. This was probably the most momentous contribution of the Sumerians. Writing is important to all civilizations, without it our world wouldn’t be the way it is today. Although most Sumerian citizens were illiterate and couldn’t read or right, cuneiform was a huge achievement made by the
According to dictionary.com, society is an organized group of persons associated together for religious, benevolent, cultural, scientific, political, patriotic, or other purposes. Both Ayn Rand and John Steinbeck write about society and its burden on individuals or the individual’s burden to it. Ayn Rand believes that society is a burden to an individual and that said individual owes nothing to society. John Steinbeck believes that the individual can be a burden to society, but that society should still be held responsible for the individual. Both authors exploit society for its wrongs but believe that society holds different responsibilities for individuals.
The relationship between the individual and society is not just something found throughout human history, but also within the pages of a literature classic. From the first days of settlement in America, to racial tensions and slavery, to the development of capitalism, there has always been a relationship between the individual and society that is reflected in the written pieces of each time, revealing the connection between oneself and the collective spanning across the centuries. ‘The Scarlet Letter’, written in a Puritan world, and ‘Bartleby, The Scrivener’, written in capitalist America, are two key examples of literature that expose, detail and discuss the relationship between society and the individual in American history.
Individualism-> when you value the freedom and worth of the individual, sometimes over the security and harmony of the group or a belief in the importance of the individual and the virtue of self-reliance and personal independence
For most of human history people have been debating what is the appropriate nature of the relationship between the individual and society. Starting with the ancient Greek, most people thought that individuals should be subordinate to society. In the publication The Second Treatise of Government, John Locke was the first to promote individualism over society. Though his ideas were considered as liberal, now are embraced by many conservative. John Locke’s ideas are the basis of the American government and so it is important to keep America 's nature; the rights of life, liberty to own property, and the pursuit of happiness; at heart when creating laws.
What is a society? A society is an arrogate of lots of people living within an ordered community. That is until one individual decides to start chaos. If he is stronger then the rest of the community, he will begin benefitting off the weak regardless of fairness. The result is an ongoing conflict between both parties. The strong and the weak. Could one individual change their society? Although we all live according to society, people need to realize the bad in society. Therefore, someone needs to stand up.
Locke feels that this system of government is lacking in that the ruler has all control, and may not be stopped in abuses of power, which Locke fears. Humans beings decide to form a society out of the state of nature because there must be unity among men in order to protect one another, and so that they may punish offenders of the justice. Men do this under the rule of an indivdual who is selected by the people, and to whom the people give up some of their personal rights.Though humans give up certain rights to the chosen authoriy, they are entitled to certain rights reserved to them alone, which they hold within the society. All members of the society should be equal under the law of justice, and that no man is better than another, since all men are created equal, and all are equal before the laws of nature. The law of nature states that people attain property through the labour they do.The ruler or authority over a society should be an indivdual
Did you know that the sumerians made several advancements that impacted their society such as writing.the wheel, and the plow. All of these things had different uses to the Sumerians.
In Ancient Mesopotamia the Sumerians, had made many achievements that impacted society. These achievements helped the Sumerians with the things that they did in their everyday lives. These advancements included writing, the wheel and the plow. Not only did the the advancements, that the Sumerians made, help them with their lives, we also use them in our everyday lives, such as writing, the plow and the wheel.
Many people across the world have their own definition and beliefs of the word individualism. There is nothing selfish to be able to express ones personality and internal emotions. Being an individual alone could value a person’s overall true character. The claim presented would be opposed by many because people like to feel independent and self-reliant. Individualism in today’s society lets people express themselves, and helps create something small into something big. For a long time now individualism has existed since the founding of our country. History was created by those who showed independence and proved that an individual can do it all.
Society, on the other hand, is made up of individuals; people live together in communities. The development of people depends on the environment, which in other words, depends on how organizations manage it to make it a healthy society. Therefore, whether a society is healthy or not does has an impact on individuals.
What is society and how did it help shape me into the person I am today? First, society is the state of living in organized groups of people. These organized groups of people are the ones that made me who I am today and will continue to shape me, as I grow older. My version of society is white middle class people who grow up going to catholic schools. These white middle class people are only associated with other white middle class people, and very seldom venture out of this little society. As stupid as that sounds to not associate with other people it is true. The reason this is true is because of where I live, where I go to school, and who my friends are. I guess it is just like
We as a human race have become a byproduct of our society. Through media, technology, and social pressure, humans no longer run society, but it seems like we are run by society. The quote from sociologist Peter Berger states “Not only do people live in society but society lives in them” This statement is referring to a form of social control were groups and the people in those groups conform to society partially knowingly and partially as a reflection based on dominant social expectations. As I further explain Berger’s statement I will explain how individuality, identity, and freedom fit in to such a predetermined future.
Society may be defined as a group of people living in agreement, having the same moralistic and judicial rules and standards. To live in a society, one must accept these standards and adopt them as their own. For example, living in the United States indicates that you respect the life, liberty and property of each individual, and you decide to accept the punishment if you violate any of these natural rights. Although one may not always agree with these standards, they choose to make sacrifices for the well-being of others. Society is responsible for creating an image of the ideal person, family, environment, and way of life. Our modern day society has dictated its own definition of beauty, happiness, and success. It seems society has accidentally tied these three together, and since these definitions are not universal, different societies may assign different meanings to each concept. Unlike societies explain why there are so many contrasting beliefs and viewpoints throughout the world today. The growth and morals of society are exclusively dependent on those who choose to be a part of something greater than them. Societies tend to grow only when people come to an understanding to be involved. Society is an accumulation of majority rule and the goals of the majority.