Eleanor Finch
Humans are inherently social creatures, and our sociality is a fundamental aspect of our existence. We live in families, work in teams, find purpose in religious groups, and negotiate through economic and political alliances. Our norms and cultures are shaped by our shared experiences, and we rely on each other for various needs, including love, care, and other emotional connections. These differences in our social interactions and the underlying need for social connection raise questions about what it means to be human and the nature of our social reality. Exploring these curiosities is the domain of social philosophy, which seeks to understand the causal, ontological, and normative accounts of social phenomena.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Interdependence | Love, care, commodities |
| Group living | Families, teams, religious fellowship, political coalitions, economic alliances |
| Culture | Norms, values, beliefs, practices |
| Diversity | Races, personalities, ethnicities |
| Social and emotional development | Kindness, empathy, social awareness |
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What You'll Learn
Interdependence and shared needs
Humans are social creatures with an inherent need to live in groups. This interdependence is a fundamental aspect of our sociality, as we rely on others to meet our shared needs. From the beginning of human history, we have lived in societies, understanding that we cannot survive in isolation.
At the core of our social nature is the urge to share and depend on each other for various necessities. These shared needs encompass not only tangible commodities but also intangible aspects such as love and care. This mutual reliance extends beyond our immediate circles and permeates various facets of life. For instance, we work in teams, form economic alliances, and engage in political coalitions, all of which contribute to our interdependence as a society.
The concept of interdependence is further exemplified in our shared pursuit of duty and purpose. Religious fellowship, for instance, provides a sense of collective meaning and direction. We also find unity in our cultural norms, which are shaped by the very nature of living in groups. This cultural fabric influences our behaviours and interactions, reinforcing our interconnectedness.
Additionally, our sociality is reflected in the way we navigate and organise our world. Humans have established systems of government, economic exchange, and political alliances. These structures facilitate cooperation and coordination, allowing us to address shared needs and challenges. They also raise questions about the very nature of being human and our inherent propensity for cooperation.
The complexity of human sociality has sparked curiosity among social philosophers and evolutionary biologists alike. They explore why we form societies and the factors that shape our social behaviours. By delving into evolutionary theory and the dynamics of cooperation, they seek to understand the forces that drive us to come together and rely on one another to fulfil our shared needs.
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Social philosophy and evolutionary theory
Social philosophy is the systematic exploration of our curiosities about the nature and existence of social phenomena. It seeks causal, ontological, and normative accounts of social reality and the driving forces behind social behaviour in humans and other animals. Evolutionary theory, on the other hand, provides a framework for understanding the development of these social behaviours over time.
The intersection of social philosophy and evolutionary theory offers insights into the fundamental nature of human sociality. Social philosophy grapples with questions such as whether humans are inherently cooperative or if society imposes sociality upon them. Evolutionary theory, through the lens of sociobiology, attempts to demonstrate the impact of biological evolution on the human mind and culture. It suggests that natural selection may favour cooperation, even in non-human animals with "selfish genes".
However, evolutionary theory alone may struggle to explain uniquely human social phenomena, such as religion, economic exchange, political alliances, and ethics. These complex aspects of human sociality extend beyond the scope of biological evolution alone and require the lens of social philosophy to understand their normative and ethical implications. For example, the question of why individuals engage in acts of self-sacrifice for the greater good, such as serving in the military or as firefighters, cannot be fully explained by evolutionary theory.
The biologization of ethics, or evolutionary ethics, attempts to bridge this gap by applying evolutionary theory to human morality. Charles Darwin, in "The Descent of Man", argued that human morality evolved from our social instincts. Herbert Spencer, a proponent of Social Darwinism, suggested that mutual cooperation between humans is necessary to balance altruistic and egoistic traits, leading to the development of principles of equity.
In summary, social philosophy and evolutionary theory intersect in their quest to understand human sociality. While evolutionary theory provides a biological framework, social philosophy delves into the normative and ethical dimensions that shape our social reality. Together, they offer a more comprehensive understanding of why we are social beings.
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Social phenomena: religion, economics, politics, ethics
Humans are inherently social creatures. We live in families, work collaboratively, and our norms are shaped by our culture. However, the question of why we are social is a complex one, with evolutionary biologists, economists, political scientists, psychologists, and cultural anthropologists all contributing to our understanding of human sociality.
Religion
Religion is a social phenomenon that has been the subject of various theories in the social and behavioral sciences. An evolutionary theorist, for example, might view religion as a "survivals," a remnant of a once-adaptive means of organizing social life. A psychological theorist might argue that religious symbolism fulfils universal wish-fulfillment. Other theories include the cultural-symbolic approach, which views religion as marking the human world as distinct from the natural world, and the new style of the phenomenology of religion, which asserts that religious phenomena are characterised by a variety of meanings and intentionalities resulting from different perspectives on the world.
Economics
Economic sociology is the study of the social causes and effects of economic phenomena. Classical economic sociology was concerned with aspects of modernity such as rationalisation, secularisation, urbanisation, and social stratification. Contemporary economic sociology focuses on the social consequences of economic exchanges, the social meanings they involve, and the social interactions they facilitate or obstruct. Influential figures in this field include Mark Granovetter, who mapped the social networks that determined the economics of the electrical industry in the United States, and Karl Polanyi, who proposed the idea of "embeddedness", suggesting that the economy is embedded in social institutions that are vital for preventing the market from destroying other aspects of human life.
Politics
Political phenomena have been studied by philosophers, historians, and scientists since the English revolutions of the 17th century. The study of political anthropology, for example, investigates the role played by networks in preserving and creating social inequalities, with research examining how people acquire information about job opportunities and how interpersonal ties impact their chances of employment.
Ethics
The emergence of social networking services (SNS) has raised a host of ethical questions and concerns. For example, SNS can distract users from the needs of those in their immediate physical surroundings, and there are concerns about the impact of online relationships on offline relationships. Other ethical considerations include the use of doxing and other modes of social media shaming as tools of justice, and whether classical ethical traditions provide sufficient resources for dealing with the implications of emerging information technology for moral values.
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Individuality and community
Human beings are inherently social creatures. We live in families, work collaboratively, and seek duty and purpose through shared beliefs. Our norms and values are shaped by the culture we inhabit, which is itself a product of group living. This sociality is fundamental to our existence, and we are dependent on one another for love, care, and other needs.
However, this raises questions about individuality within communities. The world is composed of diverse individuals with unique characteristics, including race, culture, beliefs, and personalities. This variety is what constitutes our sociality and shapes our communities.
While we are inherently social, we also strive to maintain our individuality. This tension between community and individuality is a constant negotiation and can be challenging to navigate. For example, we may conform to social norms to fit into a community, but this may suppress our unique traits and beliefs. On the other hand, embracing our individuality may cause friction with the community if our actions or beliefs deviate from the group's norms.
Finding a balance between community and individuality is essential for a harmonious society. Embracing diversity and respecting differences are key aspects of this balance. Communities that value and include diverse perspectives are often more innovative and resilient. At the same time, individuals must also recognize the importance of shared norms and values that bind the community together.
To foster healthy social development, educational systems must address and contribute to the emotional and social aspects of human experience. This includes teaching about social phenomena, such as cooperation, economic exchange, political alliances, and ethics. By understanding these social aspects, individuals can better navigate the complexities of community and individuality.
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Social and emotional development
Humans are inherently social creatures, and our social and emotional development is a fundamental aspect of our overall growth, just as important as our cognitive and biological development.
Our social nature is evident in the various ways we interact and engage with others. We live in families, work collaboratively, and find meaning and purpose through shared beliefs and practices. Our norms, values, and behaviours are shaped by the culture we are a part of, which is itself a product of group living. This interdependence and shared experiences form the basis of our social fabric.
From an evolutionary perspective, biologists and social philosophers have long debated whether our sociality is innate or a product of societal influence. Some argue that natural selection may favour cooperation, even in non-human animals with "selfish genes." This raises questions about uniquely human social phenomena, such as religion, economic exchange, political alliances, and ethical systems.
The field of social philosophy seeks to understand the fundamental nature of social reality and the causal factors that shape social behaviour. It explores normative accounts of what society should be like and delves into the works of great social theorists such as Weber, Durkheim, Simmel, Marx, and Engels.
Our social and emotional development is influenced by our interactions within these social structures and our ability to navigate relationships, manage emotions, and understand societal norms. Education systems play a crucial role in fostering this development, ensuring that individuals are equipped with the skills to navigate the complexities of human sociality and emotional intelligence.
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Frequently asked questions
Sociality is the state or quality of being social. Humans are social animals who live in groups, work in teams, and depend on each other for various needs, including love and care.
Differences among individuals, such as race, culture, beliefs, and personalities, are what constitute sociality. Our norms and values are also shaped by our culture, which is an essential part of group living.
Humans have an urge to live in groups because it is a basic need for us to live in a society. We have learned to live in the world as a society, sharing what we have and depending on each other for our needs.
An individual’s social and emotional development is as important as their cognitive and biological development. Sociality impacts human development by influencing our understanding of ethics and morality, as well as our economic, political, and religious beliefs and practices.
