LESSON 7: THE HUMAN PERSON IN THE ENVIRONMENT
FORMS OF SOCIETY
• PRE-INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY
o HUNTING AND GATHERING
▪ recognized as the earliest and simplest form of society.
▪ nomadic (no permanent settlement)
▪ members are generally treated equally, and decisions are based on
consensus.
o PASTORAL SOCIETY
▪ characterized by the domestication of the animals for food for a
more stable and predictable food supply.
▪ pastoral societies often produce surplus food and resources.
▪ leads to the emergence of specialized tasks in the community.
o HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
▪ primarily engages in the small-scale cultivation of plants, fruits, and
vegetables and the domestication of animals.
▪ semi-nomadic
▪ the assignment of tasks and occupations were often based on
gender.
o AGRARIAN OR AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
▪ involves the large-scale and long-term cultivation of crops and
domestication of animals.
▪ characterized by improved technology and the use of tools to aid in
learning.
▪ give rise to a growing population and a more structured social
system.
o FEUDAL SOCIETY
▪ based on the ownership of land
▪ originated during medieval age in western Europe.
▪ members of society are organized and based on status.
▪ social relations are characterized by dependence.
• INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES
o based on the use of specialized machinery in the production of goods and
services.
o “Industrial Revolution”
o technological advances in this period resulted in improved trade and
commerce.
o work is done in factories.
o lead to greater inequalities in wealth, power, and influence.
• POST-INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY
o marked by the establishment of societies based on knowledge,
information, and sale of services.
o trend has shifted from industry to the generation, storage, manipulation,
and sale of information.
o “virtual society”
▪ a “digital citizen” is a person who is knowledgeable and responsible
enough to effectively use different social platforms on the internet.
They often engage in useful topics and issues that will help build a
better society, politics, and government.
“How does society influence our development as persons?”
➢ the person and the society have a very dynamic relationship in which one cannot
exist without the other.
➢ society influences our development as persons in various ways.
➢ society influences the interactions of its members through the establishment of
norms - sets of traits and behavior that society considers acceptable.
➢ when members of society do not conform to established norms, one can experience
negative consequences, such as punishment or social stigma.
SOCIAL SYSTEMS
• Social System- an organized or patterned set of relationships among individuals
and groups that compose a society.
• Laws- more formal and stringent norms that establish and define acceptable
behavior of citizens.
• Folkways- are less formal norms that arise from tradition and do not result in
punishment when violated. (Eg: dress code)
• Social Role- are actions and behaviors expected of a certain individual. (Eg:
being a father, son, daughter, teacher, etc.)
• Social groups or Social classes- group of individuals who share similar
backgrounds or perform similar roles. (Eg: rich, middle class, poor)
• Social institutions- groups that perform vital functions in society. (family, school,
government, religion) Society also transforms human relations, which leads to
the transformation of its members.
• Social values are actions or ideals that are considered important by society.
(cooperation, obedience to the law, concern for other, respect for others)
o Generation Gap- conflict among people of different ages when discussing
certain topics.
“How does society enable me to become a better person?”
➢ We have the freedom to rise above circumstances and make ourselves into
something different or better.
➢ Society recognizes the capability of the person to develop and provides its
members with opportunities to better themselves.
➢ Persons can also undertake to contribute to society through their decisions and
actions.
➢ Social movement- a large-scale action done by various groups and organizations
in pursuit of a common goal to bring about change. (Environmental, Youth,
Gender, Clean Governance)
