What is society - Knowledge hypermarket. Lesson in social science on the topic “What is society The nature of the social interactions described in the paragraph

17.05.2020

Lesson in social science on the topic "What is society"

Purpose: to get acquainted with the essence and characteristics of human society, to identify the specifics of social relations.

Subject: social science.

Date: "____" ____.20___

Teacher: Khamatgaleev E.R.

I. Message about the topic and purpose of the lesson.

II. Presentation of the program material.

Storytelling with elements of conversation

Introduction

You are holding a book in your hands, which in a concise form contains the key issues of social and humanitarian knowledge. Perhaps you, who have chosen a class or school of a natural-mathematical or technological profile, will have a question: “Why should I return to them again? After all, I am going to be not a historian, not a philosopher or a sociologist, but an engineer, a researcher in the field of mathematics, natural science, technology. The best answer to this question was given at the end of the 20th century. famous scientist in the field natural sciences, academician Nikita Nikolaevich Moiseev: “The more years I have been engaged in natural sciences, the more I lack humanitarian education, and I can clearly see how, as my “humanitarian qualification” increased, both the scale of my natural scientific interests and the scale of values changed. And probably all natural scientists have gone this way.

At first it seemed to me that the real thing was only physics, technical sciences and, of course, mathematics. Gradually, however, interests shifted more and more towards problems containing "humanitarian components". Now, analyzing your years of experience not only scientific, but also pedagogical activity, I am more and more convinced of the need for a good initial liberal education. It should be noted that I did not say anything new - such thoughts are shared by an increasing number of physicists, mathematicians, natural scientists.

Thinking about the future, about the coming era of the noosphere, I gradually tend to believe that the coming century will be a century humanities… will be the age of the human sciences.”

What are the grounds for such an assessment?

First, at the end of the 20th century it became clear that the progress of the natural sciences and technology in itself does not give only positive results. The contradictions of scientific and technological progress became obvious, which made the world unstable and brought to the fore the problem of the survival of mankind. Achievements in the field of genetic engineering, microworld physics, electronics and many others have sharpened the issues of ethical evaluation of research, humanitarian expertise of scientific and technical projects.

The 20th century gave a man who knows the secrets of nature, who created great science and technology, unprecedented power, but he also discovered a dead end into which his opposition to nature leads him, the loss of humanistic criteria for his activity.

Under these conditions, many scientists call for the integration of the natural sciences and the humanities, which makes it possible to solve the problems of mankind in a comprehensive manner, relying both on the possibilities of natural science and on the assessments put forward by social science. With this approach, a unified picture of the world arises, which will make it possible to determine the guidelines for both scientific and technical and socio-political activities.

Secondly, at the turn of the XX-XXI centuries. there are significant changes in the life of the society itself. The integrity and interdependence of the world community are growing, the pace of change is accelerating, and the social structure is becoming more complex. This also applies to Russian society, in which at the end of the 20th century. began a complex process of the formation of democracy, the transition from lack of freedom to freedom of choice, from the dictates of authoritarian power to coordination and cooperation, from top management to self-government, the formation of multi-variant complementary flexible social systems capable of self-regulation, self-organization.

Even a scientist who is passionate about his science (physicist or biologist, chemist or mathematician) does not live in an “ivory tower”, is not in a vacuum, but is immersed in society and, in addition to the status of a scientist, has the status of a citizen who does not want to be only an object of influence from sides of society and the state, but seeking to influence them in their own interests.

Every person, regardless of his profession, living in society, entering into contact and interaction with other people, institutions and organizations of civil society, the state, needs social and humanitarian knowledge, which becomes a guideline for his activities in modern world.

The knowledge and skills that this course gives you will need in life, as well as help in studying social disciplines available in curricula any institutions vocational education wherever you go after graduation.

So the efforts that you spend on studying this course will not be wasted, but will help you successfully adapt to the conditions of life and future profession.

WHAT IS A SOCIETY

How many meanings does the word "society" have? Is it possible to separate society from nature? Are there "uncivilized" societies?

At first glance, it seems that the answer to the question posed in the title of the paragraph is not difficult. Indeed, the concept of "society" has long and firmly entered our scientific and everyday vocabulary. But as soon as we attempt to give it a definition, we are immediately convinced that there can be many such definitions. For example, "society of book lovers", "noble society", "pedagogical society". In this case, by society we mean a certain group of people united for communication, joint activities, mutual assistance and support for each other.

But another series of related concepts is also possible: "primitive society", "feudal society", "French society". Here already, using the concept of "society", we mean a certain stage in the historical development of mankind or a specific country. If we continue to move in accordance with this logic of reasoning (from the particular to the general), then humanity as a whole, the totality of all peoples in their historical and future development, can also be a society. This is the entire population of the Earth. In other words, society - it is a part of the world isolated from nature, but closely connected with it, which includes ways of interaction between people and forms of their unification.

This definition reveals the concept of "society" in a broad sense. Let's try to understand this in more detail.

Society as a joint life activity of people

Let's start with the second part of the above definition. Society is a collection of people. However, this is not a simple sum of individuals included in it, which are sometimes called "social atoms", but held together by numerous connections and relationships. The basis of these connections is the human activity. In the process of joint activity, there is interaction between its members.

All living beings interact with the environment (with nature, other living beings). Outwardly, this is manifested in noticeable movements (motor activity). But there is also an internal (mental) activity that affects behavior. For example, many facts are known that speak of a dog's attachment to its owner. The literature describes a case when a dog continued to go to the station for several years by the time the train arrived, on which its deceased owner had previously returned from work.

Note that animals to the environment adapt. However, they can use individual items as tools and even make primitive tools with paws and teeth. Animals use these items to obtain food, defense, building a home, that is, to satisfy their vital needs. The possibilities of animal behavior are determined by the structure of their body, the natural conditions in which they live. (Remember how monkeys, beavers, birds, and other living creatures use primitive tools.)

In turn, human activity has a practical-transformative character. A person is not limited to adapting to existing natural and social conditions, although adaptive behavior also occupies a large place in his life. (Remember, for example, the influence geographical conditions, the value of legal and moral norms, customs, traditions.) However, adaptation is not the limit of human capabilities. Human activity is not limited to adapting to the environment, but transforms her. For this, not only natural objects are used, but, above all, means created by man himself. (tools).

Both the behavior of animals and human activity are consistent with a specific goal (i.e., they are expedient). For example, a predator hides in an ambush or sneaks towards a prey - its behavior is consistent with the goal of getting food. The bird flies away from the nest with a cry, distracting the attention of a person. But compare: a person builds a house, all his actions in this case are also expedient. However, for a predator, the goal is, as it were, set by its natural qualities and external conditions. At the heart of his behavior is a biological program of behavior, instincts. Human activity is characterized by historically developed (as a generalization of the experience of previous generations) programs. At the same time, a person himself determines his goal (carries out goal-setting). He is able to go beyond the program, i.e., existing experience, to define new programs (goals and ways to achieve them). In this way, goal setting inherent only in human activity.

Human activity is the fundamental principle, the starting point of the relationships and relationships that arise in society. However, the life of society is not limited to activities. It is itself generated by material and spiritual needs, interests, value orientations of people.

An essential condition for human life is collectivity. Man, in fact, is a social being, whose life is provided by cooperation, interaction with other people. A person needs this no less than food or tools. Let us recall a fact known to you from the basic school course: not only human activity requires cooperation with other people, but the very transformation of a child into a human requires being in the environment of people, communicating with his own kind. The cases of a person's survival in isolation from society described in the literature are explained only by the fact that he could use, if not objects created in the joint activity of people, then at least the knowledge and experience gained in society.

The interaction of people in the process of activity gives rise to various forms of their association. Therefore, society can be understood not only as a set of individual types of joint activities, but also as a set of various forms of their association for this activity: primary collectives, social groups, public organizations, and also as a network of relations between them.

Every sphere public life also complex education. Its constituent elements give an idea of society as a whole. It is no coincidence that some researchers consider society at the level of organizations operating in it (the state, the church, the education system, etc.), while others view it through the prism of the interaction of social communities. A person enters society through a collective, being simultaneously a member of several collectives (labor, trade union, sports, etc.). Society is presented as a collective of collectives.

A person is also included in larger communities of people - a social group, class, nation.

The diverse ties that arise between social groups, nations, as well as within them in the process of economic, social, political, cultural life and activity, are called public relations.

But not all connections that arise between people in the process of communication or joint activities are classified as social relations. Indeed, imagine that you are on a crowded bus: someone asks when the right stop will be, someone asks to give way. The contacts arising in these situations are random, episodic, and they are not classified as social relations.

Let's turn to another situation. You came to get a job. You will have to present a number of documents, perhaps pass an interview, conclude an agreement, which stipulates all the basic conditions of employment. And everyone who solves the same problem as you goes through similar procedures. Such relationships are recurring, largely impersonal (formal), affecting important aspects of people's lives - and are called public.

We will return to the study of society later. Now consider the relationship between society and nature.

Society and nature

Society - it is a part of the world isolated from nature (in this case, nature means the totality of the natural conditions of human existence). What is this isolation? Unlike elemental natural forces, a person with consciousness and will is at the center of social development. Nature exists and develops according to its own laws independent of man and society. There is another circumstance: human society acts as a creator, a transformer, a creator of culture. The concept itself culture in the broadest sense means everything created by man: it is a man-made second nature, which, as it were, is built on top of natural nature. All this gives rise to the idea that man and society in their activities are opposed to nature. The attitude to nature as something unformed, lower than culture, puts a person in the position of a conqueror, a conqueror of nature. Let us recall the well-known words of Turgenev's hero Bazarov: “Nature is not a temple, but a workshop. The person in it is a worker. What this installation has led to today is well known. Dangerous for human life pollution of its habitat, the gradual depletion of natural resources caused an ecological crisis, created a threat to the very existence of mankind.

Today it is important to realize the inseparable connection between nature and society.

On the one hand, the natural environment, geographical and climatic features have a significant impact on social progress, accelerating or slowing down the pace of development of countries and peoples, influencing the social division of labor.

On the other hand, society also affects the natural environment of man. The history of mankind testifies both to the beneficial effect of human activities on the natural habitat, and to its detrimental consequences. So, at one time, the swamps around Florence were drained, which later became flowering lands. Orchards and vineyards on the slopes of the Caucasus Mountains, as well as beautiful groves on the islands Pacific Ocean, is the work of human hands. At the same time, there are cases when herds of domestic animals trampled the soil and ate young shoots. For example, it was said about ancient Greece that its power was “eaten” by bred goats.

Prominent Italian scientist and public figure of the XX century. A. Peccei wrote: “It is well known that, having increased his power over Nature, man immediately imagined himself as the undivided master of the Earth and immediately began to exploit it, neglecting the fact that its size and biophysical resources are quite finite. Now we have also understood that as a result of such uncontrolled human activity, the once generous and abundant biological life of the planet was severely damaged, its best soils were partially exterminated, and valuable agricultural lands are increasingly built up and covered with asphalt and concrete roads, which many the most accessible mineral wealth, that man-made pollution can now be found literally everywhere, even at the poles and at the bottom of the ocean, and that now the consequences of all this are manifesting themselves in the climate and other physical characteristics of the planet.

Of course, all this causes deep anxiety, but we do not know to what extent this upsets the balance and upsets the cycles necessary for the evolution of life in general; how many irreversible changes we have already caused and which of them may affect our own lives now or in the future; it is also unknown what stocks of the main non-renewable resources we can realistically count on and how many renewable resources and under what conditions we can safely use. Since the "carrying capacity" of the Earth is clearly not unlimited, then, obviously, there are some limits, or "outer limits", for the expansion not only of human activity, but also of its presence on the planet in general.

So, returning to the definition of the concept of society with which we began our reasoning, let us clarify: speaking of the isolation of society from nature, we mean its inherent special features, but not isolation from nature and the processes of its natural development.

Society and culture

The word "culture" is used as often as the words "society" and "nature". At the same time, culture is most often understood as any achievements of mankind in the spiritual field: artistic creations, scientific discoveries, as well as the level of spiritual needs of an individual, his worthy behavior. A cultured person is an educated person who has good taste, knows the literary language, is interested in highly artistic works of art, etc.

This interpretation of culture is quite appropriate. However, as in the case of society, this concept has many meanings. Discussing the interaction of society and nature, we have already mentioned culture, defining it as a "second nature" created by man. Thus, in the broadest sense of the word, culture covers all types of transformative human activity, directed not only at the external environment, but also at himself. This is more in line with the original meaning given word which comes from the Latin culture- cultivation, upbringing, education.

What do we attribute to the created, “cultivated” by man? These are built buildings, and written books, and sown fields, and means of communication and communication, and established traditions, and generally accepted moral norms, and personal convictions, and much, much more. Thus, the world of culture is both material and spiritual results of human activity.

From what has been said, it is obvious: without culture, we would not be people, but would remain only a community of individuals of a certain biological species. People act on the basis of cultural norms (morality, law, customs and traditions), change under the influence of cultural values (remember the “educational” meaning of the word “culture”), accumulate and pass on to other generations the achievements of culture, create its new forms and meanings.

Even natural manifestations our lives are transformed under the influence of culture. For example, we satisfy the need for food precisely in the ways that are enshrined in modern society by certain norms: in most cases, we buy products in a store (someone uses the possibilities of personal farming), process them (if this is not a finished product) on a stove, in oven, serve the cooked dish on a plate and eat it using at least spoons.

The culture is characterized by historicity and great diversity. For a deeper study of the world of culture, researchers identify its types, forms, components and create various classifications. It is generally accepted that culture is divided into material(buildings, vehicles, household items, appliances and equipment, etc.) and spiritual(knowledge, language, symbols, values, rules and norms, and much more).

This division is rather conditional. It is clear that behind every completely material thing there are certain forms of labor organization, the intention of the creators, often complex calculations and mathematical calculations, that is, phenomena related to spiritual culture. At the same time, the fruits of spiritual activity are most often materialized: artistic images come to life on the pages of a book, a religious idea is embodied in the construction of a temple.

Many peoples who inhabited our planet in the past and live today differed and differ from each other, first of all, by their original culture. And this applies not only to linguistic differences, religious views or artistic creativity. The originality is manifested in traditions and rituals, in the family way of life and attitude towards children, in the manner of communication and food preferences, and in many other things. At the same time, it is possible to understand the individual elements of the culture of a particular society only within the framework of its entire culture. One American sociologist gives the following example: people in Western countries are distinguished by a particularly reverent attitude towards oral hygiene. From the point of view of a representative of another culture, the ritual of regular brushing of teeth with “a tuft of bristles coated with magic powder” looks no less strange than the custom of some tribes to knock out their front teeth for beauty or protrude their lips with the help of special plates for the same purpose.

At the same time, researchers who have studied the cultures of various peoples have come to the conclusion that all cultures have some common features or forms. They were called cultural universals. These, in particular, include the presence of a language with a certain grammatical structure, the institution of marriage and family, and religious rituals. All cultures have norms related to caring for children. Almost all nations have a ban on incest - sexual relations between close relatives.

But even these few universals are refracted in their own way in the culture of different societies. So, most of them today reject polygamy, while in a number of Muslim countries this is a legal norm.

You will learn about many cultures “within” the national culture from the subsequent chapters of the textbook.

Social Sciences

Public life, as we have already seen, is complex and multifaceted, therefore it is studied by many sciences, called public(history, philosophy, sociology, political science, jurisprudence, ethics, aesthetics, etc.). Each of them deals with a certain area of public life. So, jurisprudence explores the essence and history of the state and law. Subject ethics are moral standards aesthetics – art laws, artistic creativity of people. The most general knowledge about society as a whole is provided by such sciences as philosophy And sociology.

We have already noted that society, in comparison with nature, has its own specifics. “In all areas of nature ... a certain regularity dominates, independent of the existence of thinking humanity,” wrote the greatest physicist M. Planck (1858-1947). Society, on the other hand, is nothing more than a collection of people endowed with will and consciousness, performing actions and deeds under the influence of certain interests, motives, and moods.

Do objective laws of development, that is, independent of people's consciousness, operate in social reality? Is it possible to study social life, abstracting from the diversity of views, interests, intentions of people? If not, is it possible to recognize social science as a science that provides accurate and objective knowledge about the world?

These questions have long been faced by researchers of social life. And the answers to them were given and given different. So, some philosophers proceed from the fact that social phenomena are subject to laws common to all reality, and in their knowledge one can use the exact methods of social research, and sociology as a science should be free from ties with ideology, which requires separation in the course of a specific study. real facts from their subjective assessments. Within the framework of another philosophical direction, an attempt was made to eliminate the confrontation between objective phenomena and the person who knows them. Proponents of this direction seek to comprehend the social world in relation to the goals, ideas and motives of really acting people. Thus, the “experiencing” person himself and his perception of the world through the prism of the individual’s attitude towards him are at the center of the study.

Who is right in this dispute?

Let's not rush to answer.

III. Practical conclusions.

When studying society, you should remember that the first condition for developing your own position on various issues of social development is to understand that social problems arise and are solved as a result of the interaction of individuals, groups, organizations. It is important to understand the direction of joint actions of people, to identify the nature of the relationship between them.

When studying society, we must not forget that it largely depends on nature. The natural conditions in which they are different countries and peoples, cosmic phenomena, natural disasters having devastating consequences, epidemics covering entire continents - all this has an impact on the life of society. But one cannot ignore the results of society's impact on the natural environment, which have disastrous consequences for humanity.

Culture enables society to resist dangers. The better a person owns the achievements of culture, the more successfully he is able to solve the problems that arise before him.

Social Sciences not only allow to satisfy the curiosity inherent in people, but also help a person who has mastered their basics to navigate in a complex, rapidly changing world, more accurately determine the possibilities and ways to achieve success in life and work.

IV. Document.

Reflections on the society of a Russian sociologist, the founder of Russian and American sociological schools P. A. Sorokina from the book The Man. Civilization. Society".

Since we are talking about society, we thereby assume the presence of not one unit, not one being, but at least several. The unit of society does not constitute. Means, society means, first of all, the totality of several units (individuals, beings, individuals). Let us now imagine that these units (individuals, specimens) are absolutely occluded and have no intercourse with each other. Will there be society in this case? Obviously not. Hence the conclusion: society means not only the totality of several units (individuals, individuals, etc.), but also implies that these units not isolated from each other, but are located among themselves in progress interactions, that is, they influence each other in one way or another, come into contact with each other and have one or another connection with each other. In other words, the concept of society presupposes not only the presence of several units, but it is also required that the units interact with each other.

…All interacting centers and all interaction processes can be divided into three main forms: 1) "inorganic" interacting centers and physical-chemical interaction (the inorganic world), studied by physical-chemical sciences; 2) live "organic" interacting centers and biological interaction (organic world, life phenomena), studied by the biological sciences; 3) finally, interacting centers endowed with the psyche, consciousness, and mental interaction, that is, the exchange of ideas, feelings, volitional acts (phenomena of culture, the world of sociality), studied by the social sciences.

Questions and tasks for the document

Why is a collection of individuals isolated from each other not a society?

Why does P. A. Sorokin believe that mental interactions are the subject of study of the social sciences?

Explain the nature of the described in paragraph social interactions using Sorokin's text.

V. Questions for self-examination.

What should be understood by society in the narrow and broad sense of the word?

What is the relationship between society and nature? What is the specificity of social phenomena?

What is the nature of human activity?

What is the connection between the joint activities of people and the forms of their association?

Reveal different meanings the concept of culture.

What do researchers refer to as cultural universals?

What sciences study society?

VI. Tasks.

An argument ensued in one of the lessons. Nikolai argued that man appeared first, and then society. Olga objected to him: a person becomes a person only in society, therefore society arose first, and then a person. What do you think? Justify your point of view.

The Roman philosopher Seneca (c. 4 BC - 65 AD) said: “We are born to live together; our society is a vault of stones that would collapse if one did not support the other.” How do you understand this statement? Compare it with the definition of society given in the textbook. Do these characteristics match? If the modern definition of society differs from that given by the ancient philosopher, then what are the differences?

L. N. Tolstoy wrote: “If people interfere with you, then you have no reason to live. Leaving people is suicide.” What thought in the educational text is consonant with this statement of the writer? Why do you think so?

Are the so-called negative values (rules of conduct in a criminal community, the production of pornography, etc.) cultural phenomena? Justify your conclusion.

VII. Thoughts of the wise.

“Nature creates man, but society develops and shapes him.”

V. G. Belinsky (1811-1848),

Russian literary critic

Evaluation of student responses.

When studying society, you should remember that the first condition for developing your own position on various issues of social development is the understanding that social problems arise and are solved as a result of the interaction of individuals, groups, organizations. It is important to understand the direction of joint actions of people, to identify the nature of the relationship between them.

When studying society, we must not forget that it largely depends on nature. The natural conditions in which different countries and peoples are located, cosmic phenomena, natural disasters with devastating consequences, epidemics covering entire continents - all this has an impact on the life of society. But one cannot ignore the results of society's impact on the natural environment, which have disastrous consequences for humanity.
Culture enables society to resist dangers. How better man owns the achievements of culture, the more successfully he is able to solve the problems that arise before him.
Social sciences not only allow to satisfy the curiosity inherent in people, but also help a person who has mastered their basics to navigate in a complex, rapidly changing world, to more accurately determine the possibilities and ways to achieve success in life and work.

Document

Reflections on the society of the Russian sociologist, the founder of the Russian and American sociological schools P. A. Sorokin from the book “Man, Civilization. Society".

Since we are talking about society, we thereby assume the presence of not one unit, not one being, but at least several. The unit of society does not constitute. Hence, society means, first of all, the totality of several units (individuals, beings, individuals). Let us now imagine that these units (individuals, specimens) are absolutely occluded and have no intercourse with each other. Will there be society in this case? Obviously not. Hence the conclusion: society means not only the totality of several units (individuals, individuals, etc.), but also assumes that these units are not isolated from each other, but are in the process of interaction with each other, that is, they exert something or other on each other. different influence, are in contact with each other and have one or another connection with each other. In other words, the concept of society presupposes not only the presence of several units, but it is also required that the units interact with each other.

All interacting centers and all processes of interaction can be divided into three main forms: 1) "inorganic" interacting centers and physical-chemical interaction (the inorganic world), studied by physical and chemical sciences; 2) living "organic" interacting centers and biological interaction (organic world, life phenomena) studied by the biological sciences; 3) finally, interacting centers endowed with the psyche, consciousness, and mental interaction, that is, the exchange of ideas, feelings, volitional acts (phenomena of culture, the world of sociality), studied by the social sciences.

Questions and tasks for the document

Why is a collection of individuals isolated from each other not a society?
Why does P. A. Sorokin believe that mental interactions are the subject of study of the social sciences?
Explain the nature of the social interactions described in the paragraph, using the text of Sorokin-

Questions for self-examination

What should be understood by society in the narrow and broad sense of the word?
What is the relationship between society and nature? What is the specificity of social phenomena?
What is the nature of human activity?
What is the connection between the joint activities of people and the forms of their association?
What kind of relationship can be considered social?
Explain the different meanings of the concept of "culture".
What do researchers refer to as cultural universals?
What sciences study society?

Tasks

An argument ensued in one of the lessons. Nikolai argued that man appeared first, and then society. Olga objected to him: a person becomes a person only in society, therefore society arose first, and then a person. What do you think? Justify your point of view.
The Roman philosopher Seneca (c. 4 BC-65 AD) said: “We are born to live together; our society is a vault of stones that would collapse if one did not support the other.” How do you understand this statement? Compare it with the definition of society given in the textbook. Do these characteristics match? If the modern definition of society differs from that given by the ancient philosopher, then what are the differences?
L. N. Tolstoy wrote: “If people interfere with you, then you have no reason to live. Leaving people is suicide." What thought in the educational text is consonant with this statement of the writer? Why do you think so?
Are the so-called negative values (rules of conduct in a criminal community, the production of pornography, etc.) cultural phenomena? Justify your conclusion.

Thoughts of the wise

“Nature creates man, but society develops and shapes him.”

B. G. Belinsky (1811 - 1848), Russian literary critic

Lesson in social science on the topic "What is society"

Purpose: to get acquainted with the essence and characteristics of human society, to identify the specifics of social relations.

Subject: social science.

Grade: 10.

Date: "____" ____.20___

Teacher: Khamatgaleev E.R.

I. Communication of the topic and purpose of the lesson.

II. Presentation of the program material.

Storytelling with elements of conversation

Introduction

You are holding a book in your hands, which in a concise form contains the key issues of social and humanitarian knowledge. Perhaps you, who have chosen a class or school of a natural-mathematical or technological profile, will have a question: “Why should I return to them again? After all, I am going to be not a historian, not a philosopher or a sociologist, but an engineer, a researcher in the field of mathematics, natural science, technology. The best answer to this question was given at the end of the 20th century. famous scientist in the field of natural sciences, academician Nikita Nikolaevich Moiseev: “The more years I have been engaged in natural sciences, the more I lack humanitarian education, and I can clearly see how, as my “humanitarian qualification” increased, the scale of my natural sciences also changed. interests, and values. And probably all natural scientists have gone this way.

At first it seemed to me that the real thing was only physics, technical sciences and, of course, mathematics. Gradually, however, interests shifted more and more towards problems containing "humanitarian components". Now, analyzing my long-term experience of not only scientific, but also pedagogical activity, I am more and more convinced of the need for a good initial liberal education. It should be noted that I did not say anything new - such thoughts are shared by an increasing number of physicists, mathematicians, natural scientists.

Thinking about the future, about the coming era of the noosphere, I am gradually leaning towards the conviction that the coming century will be the century of the humanities ... will be the century of the human sciences.

What are the grounds for such an assessment?

The knowledge and skills that this course gives you will need in your life, as well as help in the study of social disciplines available in the curricula of any vocational education institutions, wherever you go after graduation.

So the efforts that you spend on studying this course will not be lost, but will help you successfully adapt to the conditions of life and future profession.

WHAT IS A SOCIETY

How many meanings does the word "society" have? Is it possible to separate society from nature? Are there "uncivilized" societies?

But another row is also possible. related concepts: "primitive society", "feudal society", "French society". Here already, using the concept of "society", we mean a certain stage in the historical development of mankind or a specific country. If we continue to move in accordance with this logic of reasoning (from the particular to the general), then humanity as a whole, the totality of all peoples in their historical and future development, can also be a society. This is the entire population of the Earth. In other words, society - it is a part of the world isolated from nature, but closely connected with it, which includes ways of interaction between people and forms of their unification.

This definition reveals the concept of "society" in a broad sense. Let's try to understand this in more detail.

Society as a joint life activity of people

Note that animals to the environment adapt. At the same time, they can use individual objects as tools and even make primitive tools with the help of paws and teeth. Animals use these items to obtain food, defense, building a home, that is, to satisfy their vital needs. The possibilities of animal behavior are determined by the structure of their body, the natural conditions in which they live. (Remember how monkeys, beavers, birds, and other living creatures use primitive tools.)

In turn, human activity has a practical-transformative character. A person is not limited to adapting to existing natural and social conditions, although adaptive behavior also occupies a large place in his life. (Recall, for example, the influence of geographical conditions, the importance of legal and moral norms, customs, traditions.) However, adaptation is not the limit of human capabilities. Human activity is not limited to adapting to the environment, but transforms her. For this, not only natural objects are used, but, above all, means created by man himself. (tools).

Human activity is the fundamental principle, the starting point of the relationships and relationships that arise in society. However, the life of society is not limited to activities. It itself is generated by the material and spiritual needs, interests, value orientations of people.

Each sphere of public life is also a complex formation. Its constituent elements give an idea of society as a whole. It is no coincidence that some researchers consider society at the level of organizations operating in it (the state, the church, the education system, etc.), while others view it through the prism of the interaction of social communities. A person enters society through a collective, being simultaneously a member of several collectives (labor, trade union, sports, etc.). Society is presented as a collective of collectives.

A person is also included in larger communities of people - a social group, class, nation.

The diverse ties that arise between social groups, nations, as well as within them in the process of economic, social, political, cultural life and activities are called public relations.

We will return to the study of society later. Now consider the relationship between society and nature.

Society and nature

Today it is important to realize the inseparable connection between nature and society.

On the other hand, society also affects the natural environment of man. The history of mankind testifies both to the beneficial effect of human activities on the natural habitat, and to its detrimental consequences. So, at one time, the swamps around Florence were drained, which later became flowering lands. Orchards and vineyards on the slopes of the Caucasus Mountains, as well as beautiful groves on the islands of the Pacific Ocean, are the work of man. At the same time, there are cases when herds of domestic animals trampled the soil and ate young shoots. For example, it was said about ancient Greece that its power was “eaten” by bred goats.

Prominent Italian scientist and public figure 20th century A. Peccei wrote: “It is well known that, having increased his power over Nature, man immediately imagined himself as the undivided master of the Earth and immediately began to exploit it, neglecting the fact that its size and biophysical resources are quite finite. Now we have also understood that as a result of such uncontrolled human activity, the once generous and abundant biological life of the planet was severely damaged, its best soils were partially exterminated, and valuable agricultural lands are increasingly built up and covered with asphalt and concrete roads, which many the most accessible mineral wealth, that man-made pollution can now be found literally everywhere, even at the poles and at the bottom of the ocean, and that now the consequences of all this are manifesting themselves in the climate, other physical characteristics planets.

Society and culture

The word "culture" is used as often as the words "society" and "nature". At the same time, culture is most often understood as any achievements of mankind in the spiritual field: artistic creations, scientific discoveries, as well as the level of spiritual needs of an individual, his worthy behavior. A cultured person is an educated person, possessing good taste, possessing literary language who is interested in highly artistic works of art, etc.

This interpretation of culture is quite appropriate. However, as in the case of society, this concept has many meanings. Discussing the interaction of society and nature, we have already mentioned culture, defining it as a "second nature" created by man. Thus, in the broadest sense of the word, culture covers all types of transformative human activity, directed not only at the external environment, but also at himself. This is more in line with the original meaning of the word, which comes from the Latin culture- cultivation, upbringing, education.

Even the natural manifestations of our lives are transformed under the influence of culture. For example, we satisfy the need for food precisely in those ways that are enshrined in modern society certain norms: in most cases, we buy food in the store (someone uses the possibilities of personal farming), process (if it is not a finished product) on the stove, in the oven, serve the cooked dish on a plate and eat it using at least , spoons.

Many peoples who inhabited our planet in the past and live today differed and differ from each other, first of all, by their original culture. And this applies not only to linguistic differences, religious views or artistic creativity. The originality is manifested in traditions and rituals, in the family way of life and attitude towards children, in the manner of communication and food preferences, and in many other things. At the same time, it is possible to understand the individual elements of the culture of a particular society only within the framework of its entire culture. One American sociologist gives the following example: people Western countries they are particularly sensitive to oral hygiene. From the point of view of a representative of another culture, the ritual of regular brushing of teeth with “a tuft of bristles coated with magic powder” looks no less strange than the custom of some tribes to knock out their front teeth for beauty or protrude their lips with the help of special plates for the same purpose.

But even these few universals are refracted in their own way in the culture of different societies. So, most of them today reject polygamy, while in a number of Muslim countries this is a legal norm.

About many cultures "inside" national culture you will learn in later chapters of the tutorial.

Social Sciences

Public life, as we have already seen, is complex and multifaceted, therefore it is studied by many sciences, called public(history, philosophy, sociology, political science, jurisprudence, ethics, aesthetics, etc.). Each of them deals with a certain area of public life. So, jurisprudence explores the essence and history of the state and law. Subject ethics are moral standards aesthetics – laws of art, artistic creativity of people. The most general knowledge about society as a whole is provided by such sciences as philosophy And sociology.

These questions have long been faced by researchers of social life. And the answers to them were given and given different. Thus, some philosophers proceed from the fact that social phenomena are subject to laws common to all reality, and in their cognition one can use the exact methods of social research, and sociology as a science should be free from ties with ideology, which requires separation in the course of a specific study of real facts from their subjective assessments. Within the framework of another philosophical direction, an attempt was made to eliminate the confrontation between objective phenomena and the person who knows them. Proponents of this direction seek to comprehend the social world in relation to the goals, ideas and motives of really acting people. Thus, the “experiencing” person himself and his perception of the world through the prism of the individual’s attitude towards him are at the center of the study.

Who is right in this dispute?

Let's not rush to answer.

III. Practical conclusions.

When studying society, you should remember that the first condition for developing your own position on various issues of social development is the understanding that social problems arise and are solved as a result of the interaction of individuals, groups, organizations. It is important to understand the direction of joint actions of people, to identify the nature of the relationship between them.
When studying society, we must not forget that it largely depends on nature. The natural conditions in which different countries and peoples are located, cosmic phenomena, natural disasters with devastating consequences, epidemics covering entire continents - all this has an impact on the life of society. But one cannot ignore the results of society's impact on the natural environment, which have disastrous consequences for humanity.
Culture enables society to resist dangers. The better a person owns the achievements of culture, the more successfully he is able to solve the problems that arise before him.
Social sciences not only allow to satisfy the curiosity inherent in people, but also help a person who has mastered their basics to navigate in a complex, rapidly changing world, to more accurately determine the possibilities and ways to achieve success in life and work.

IV. Document.

Reflections on the society of a Russian sociologist, the founder of Russian and American sociological schools P. A. Sorokina from the book The Man. Civilization. Society".

Questions and tasks for the document

Why is a collection of individuals isolated from each other not a society?
Why does P. A. Sorokin believe that mental interactions are the subject of study of the social sciences?
Explain the nature of the social interactions described in the paragraph using Sorokin's text.

V. Questions for self-examination.

What should be understood by society in the narrow and broad sense of the word?
What is the relationship between society and nature? What is the specificity of social phenomena?
What is the nature of human activity?
What is the connection between the joint activities of people and the forms of their association?
What kind of relationship can be considered social?
Explain the different meanings of the concept of "culture".
What do researchers refer to as cultural universals?
What sciences study society?

VI. Tasks.

An argument ensued in one of the lessons. Nikolai argued that man appeared first, and then society. Olga objected to him: a person becomes a person only in society, therefore society arose first, and then a person. What do you think? Justify your point of view.
The Roman philosopher Seneca (c. 4 BC - 65 AD) said: “We are born to live together; our society is a vault of stones that would collapse if one did not support the other.” How do you understand this statement? Compare it with the definition of society given in the textbook. Do these characteristics match? If the modern definition of society differs from that given by the ancient philosopher, then what are the differences?
L. N. Tolstoy wrote: “If people interfere with you, then you have no reason to live. Leaving people is suicide.” What thought in the educational text is consonant with this statement of the writer? Why do you think so?
Are the so-called negative values (rules of conduct in a criminal community, the production of pornography, etc.) cultural phenomena? Justify your conclusion.

VII. Thoughts of the wise.

“Nature creates man, but society develops and shapes him.”

V. G. Belinsky (1811-1848),

Russian literary critic

Evaluation of student responses.

The lesson “What is society” (grade 10, Bogolyubov) helps to clarify this concept for oneself and think about the role of a person in society.

Questions and tasks for the document

Why is a group of isolated individuals not a society??

Society is not only a collection of individuals. They must interact with each other. This can be understood by doing a simple thought experiment:

Isolate all individuals from each other so that there are no interactions between them. It is obvious that society will not work out of such a set of people. There will be no connections of the members of this population with each other.

Therefore, society is formed only under two mandatory conditions:

the presence of units of society (people);
their interactions with each other.

Social science grade 10: what is society and what sciences study it

Why does P. A. Sorokin believe that mental interactions are the subject of study of the social sciences?

Psychic interactions are the communication of people at the level of ideas, cultural phenomena, relationships within society. Such processes are described not by physics or chemistry, not biology.

Psychic interactions are studied by such Social sciencies like history, sociology, philosophy, jurisprudence.

Explain the nature of the social interactions described in the paragraph, using the text of Sorokin-

Every interaction between people can be classified into one of three forms:

inorganic - related to physical and chemical processes;
organic - biological interaction;
mental - the exchange of ideas, volitional acts and feelings.

Social science grade 10: what is society - basic questions

Questions for self-examination

What should be understood by society in the narrow and broad sense of the word?

Broadly speaking, society - a group of people who have come together to help each other, work together and communicate.

In other words, society is a part of the world separate from nature, which includes the interactions of people.

In the narrow sense of the word society can be defined in terms of:

joint life of people;
part of the world, isolated from nature;
form of cultural development;
object of study of social sciences.

Society and nature (Grade 10)

What is the relationship between society and nature? What is the specificity of social phenomena?

Society is separated from nature, but at the same time, closely connected with it. Thanks to society, mankind has created "its own nature" - culture. Man and society can be opposed to nature.

Natural phenomena are spontaneous, and society is built on the goal-setting of its members.

Society is closely interconnected with nature. Climate, geographical position strongly influences the rate of social progress. However, society itself has an impact on the natural environment. Human activity can be both beneficial and destructive to nature. It draws natural resources, exterminates animals and vegetation.

The looming environmental crisis is a reminder of the importance of managing natural resources. That is why it is important to understand that human activities must take into account the importance of preserving nature.

What is the nature of human activity?

Features of human activity:

Unlike animals, which are guided by instincts, a person acts on the basis of a goal.
Man transforms environment, but does not adapt to it.
Human activity is based on interaction.

Human activity is the basis of social relations.

Human activity is based on historical programs. But a person can go beyond these programs.

What is the connection between the joint activities of people and the forms of their association?

The society is formed thanks to the joint activity and psychic connection of its members. In the absence of these factors, society cannot form.

A child becomes a man only among those like him. This indicates the need for the participation of other people in the formation of the individual.

In any case, society is formed on some unifying factor that stimulates people to develop together.

Human behavior is made up of historically developed programs and is subject to collectivity. Man needs to communicate with his own kind.

What kind of relationship can be considered social?

Public relations are only when they are formed in the process of joint activity. For example, asking to pass the fare is not a public relationship. When an employee is hired by an employer, such relations can be considered public.

Public relations are formed between nations, social groups. Such relations are formed in the process of cultural, political, social life.

Explain the different meanings of the concept of "culture".

Different interpretations of the concept of culture:

Various human achievements - in art, science, sports.
Cultural behavior of a person and the level of his cultural needs.
Transformative activity that is aimed at the environment and at oneself.

Culture is divided into spiritual and material.

spiritual include - ideas, values, rules

to the material - books, buildings, various devices

What do researchers refer to as cultural universals?

The culture of every nation has some stable features. They are called cultural universals. For instance:

marriage customs;
grammar of the language;
religious rituals.

However, even universals that are common to all peoples can change depending on the people.

The lesson “What is society” (grade 10, Bogolyubov) helps to understand what place nature and culture play in a person’s life. The sciences that study society help to understand much of the behavior of individual groups of people.

What sciences study society?

Society studies many sciences:

philosophy - the science of the most general laws of development of nature, man and society;
sociology - the science of the behavior of groups of people and each person in a group;
ethics;
morality;
jurisprudence;

Now the lesson "What is society" (grade 10, Bogolyubov) disassembled and no issues.

Tasks

An argument ensued in one of the lessons. Nikolai claimed that a man appeared earlier ... What do you think? Justify your point of view.

You will find answers to these questions in the article: