MAN AS A SOCIAL ANIMAL
Aristotle,
the Greek philosopher writes "Man is a social animal. He who lives without
society is either a beast or God". Thus, man is by nature a social animal.
He is born in society lives in society and dies in society. Society is
indispensable for man. Man cannot live as man, without society. Isolation from
society is regarded as a punishment. Solitary life is unbearable for him.
Social life is necessary for man. The instinct for some form of social life is
innate in human being. Professor Park says, "Man is not born human but to
be made human". Man can be called social animal for the following reasons:
1)
Man is social by nature:
Human
nature is such that it cannot but live in society. Man's nature impels him to
live in society. The human child is endowed with some latent capacities. Human
qualities like capacity to learn language, enquire and think, play and work
,help or harm others, etc. are developed in human society only. These
capacities grow through social interaction with others. One cannot develop into
a normal person in isolation. There are eminent sociologist like Maciver and
others who have cited a number of cases. Studies. These case studies show the
fact that man develops human qualities only in society.
2)
Development of self.
The
human infant, at his birth, is not fully aware of his own "self'. He
develops the idea of self through the interaction with others. Charles H.Cooley
says that the very idea of "self' or "I" can arise only in
relationship with other people. G.H.Mead says that at first the child performs
the role of others with his parents and other persons at home. Then, gradually
he takes the role of other persons such as playmates, friends etc. In this way
self develops.
3)
Social heritage determines Human personality
Man
is social because he depends on social heritage which is a mixture of customs
beliefs and ideals etc. Society preserves social heritage and transmits it from
one generation to another. Social heritage molds man's attitudes, beliefs, morals
and ideals. It is said that "Man only becomes man among Men". Man is
born with some inborn potentialities. It is the social heritage, which
determines the manner in which his innate potentialities express themselves in
society. Emotional development, intellectual maturity is not possible without
society. Therefore, society determines our mental equipment's. It shapes our
identity, our thought and our emotions.
4)
Necessity makes a man social.
Necessity
compels man to live in society. Man has a variety of needs. If he leads a
cooperative life with his fellow beings in society he can easily get his needs
fulfilled. Many of his needs will remain unsatisfied if he does not lead a
cooperative life with his fellow beings. The human child is born helpless. Without
proper care he cannot develop himself. During infancy he must be provided with
nutrition, shelter and affection. It is society, which extends protection,
attention and opportunities necessary for his survival and growth.
The
society protects the child against all sorts of danger and difficulty. Apart
from fulfilling the basic needs of a man, the society satisfies his desires and
aspirations. The society fulfills various needs like educational, protection,
nurture, opportunity and equipment's etc. The need for self- preservation which
is felt by everyone is fulfilled by society. So the prolonged dependence of
human child compels him to live in society.
There are mainly two theories of
the relationship of man and society. \
One
of them is Social Contract Theory and
the
other is Organismic Theory.
Social
contract Theory was originated by three eminent philosophers namely, Thomas
Hobbes (1588-1679), John Locke (1632-1778) and Jean Jacques Rousseau
(1712-1778). The exponents of this theory believed that people lived in the
'State of Nature' before the society came in to existence. At this primitive
stage, people had no idea about society. But, the exponents expressed different
views on the prevailing conditions of the 'State of Nature'. The society was
the result of the contract among individuals for their collective as well as
personal benefit.
Organism
Theory is divided into two kinds namely, the organic theory and the Group-mind
theory.
The organic Theory
was propounded by Herbert Spencer, Novico, Spengler, Bluntschli and others in
the nineteenth century. This theory states that society is a kind of living
organism. Its structure and functions resemble the structure and functions of
the living human body. The human body goes through different stages of development
such as birth, youth, maturity, old age and death. Society also passes through
similar stages. The organs of human of human body like the ears, eyes, hands,
head, legs etc. are all inter-dependent and they form an organic whole,
although each of them has distinct functions of its own. In the same way,
society is composed of associations and institutions with specific functions.