Sociology
Relationship Between Individual & Society: Understanding Contemporary Society
The human being, by his nature, is a social creature. This nature drives him to live as a member of society, in which he interacts with others to satisfy his needs and instincts. No person can manage to satisfy his needs on his own; rather, he requires specific relationships with other human beings in order to satisfy them. The nature of these relationships is determined by the system which is implemented in the society. However, every system, in order to produce a progressive society, has to balance between the needs of the individual and the needs of the society. If the individual's needs are ignored, then he will live in misery. Also, if the society's needs are ignored, then the society will not function properly as the environment in which the individual's strive to satisfy their needs. (LBA, 2010)
The relationship between the individual and society has altered over the course of time. There is a symbiotic balance the society and the individual. The society cannot function without the individual and a great deal of individuals must function as part of a society. While there may be those who are highly isolated, it is an extremely rare occasion where there exists an individual outside of society. In this relationship, there is a great tension and in this tension there rises a debate. There are those that argue that the society is more important than the individual and there are those who contend that the individual is more significant than the society.
The paper will demonstrate the ways in which this relationship has changed over time and what kinds of factors have the greatest influence upon this relationship as well as the perceptions of this relationship. The paper will explore this topic and reference the debate, though not necessarily engage in this debate. It is evident that both are vital to their respective existences; that is to say that the individual cannot exist as such without the society and the society cannot exist without the individual. They both need each other to survive. The paper will inquire as to whether the debate over which is more relevant or important is moot or relevant. The paper will additionally consider such concepts as individuation as part of the examination of the relationship of the individual and the society, in whatever form the society takes. The paper will conclude that there are moments when the needs of the society will outweigh the needs of the individual and there are moments, necessarily, that the needs of the individual must be honored in order for the society to function as such.
What do we mean when we say a society? Society is a word that and concept that is used often, and the definition may be taken for granted. What constitutes an individual? This definition is extremely intuitive, yet some of the definition is contingent upon the polar opposite of the individual, which is the society, the amassing and systemic organization of individuals. Kumar offers insights as to these definitions as well as provides a springboard upon which the discussion and examination of their relationship can begin.
A society refers to the whole and individuals represent only its parts. It is obvious that individual is both a social factor as well as a social product. Thus there is no antithesis or contradiction between society and individual. Nevertheless there may be occasions of conflict and opposition between the society and the individual. There is controversy among scholars as to who should be sacrificed in such cases. (Kumar, 2012)
This definition concurs with the general perspective of this paper. A society is the whole and the individuals are the parts. The sum of the parts is greater than the whole, yet there is great value within those parts. The individual exists as a being, yet the individual's existence is in part constituted by his/her participation within a greater society composed of many individuals. Kumar agrees that neither the individual nor the society retains a greater value over the other overall. There is value and necessity to both aspects. They are parts of each other as well as reflections of each other.
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