CH-4 Relationship Between Man & Society
Man is a social animal. He has a natural urge to live an
associated life with others. By living with others he enjoys the fruits of common
life. Man needs society for his very existence or survival. The human child
depends on his parents and others for its survival and growth. The inherent
capacities of the child can develop only in society.
Society provides a favourable atmosphere for the
development of human personality. A rich and varied social life provides him
with immense opportunities to be his best self. Again individuals depend upon
society for the satisfaction of their innumerable wants. Society provides
insurance or security against odds in life.
The individual falls back on his family and friends in
times of difficulty and insecurity. Society is a store-house of knowledge and
experience, and each individual benefits by the wisdom and experience of
generations of human beings.
All this proves that man is by nature and necessity a
social animal. He is intimately related to social life. The relationship
between society and the individual is reciprocal and complementary. Society is
composed of individuals and each individual is an inseparable part of the
social whole.
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. One group of thinkers
known as the socialists, collectivists, idealists and the organismic theorists
maintain that society as a collective whole is bigger and greater than each
individual.
The individual may be selfish or egoistic. He may ignore
the social interest and pursue his self-interest. In such cases it is the duty
of the individual to adjust him to society or else society would compel him to
conform to the pattern of social life and code of conduct. The individual may
be sacrificed for the common good of society.
On the other hand, a group of thinkers known as liberals
and individualists put premium on the dignity and worth of each individual
person and maintains that society exists for the individuals. It is a means to
an end and not an end in itself. Society is an instrument to achieve and
promote human happiness.
They demand ample freedom of thought and action for the
individuals and attack any attempt by society and associations to limit or take
away precious freedom.
Both views are one-sided and exaggerate both the
importance and superiority of society or of the individual. They contain some
element of truth, but not the whole of it. It may be said that the proper
relation between society and the individual is reciprocal and complementary and
not one of conflict and antagonism.
Herbert Spencer is an advocate of the organismic theory
which compares the relationship between society and the individual with the
relationship of body with that of its various parts. The body and its parts are
interdependent. Neither can exist without the other. Likewise individuals are
indispensable for the composition of society and society is essential for the
very existence of the individuals.
The ultimate goal of society is to promote good and happy
life for its individuals. It creates conditions and opportunities for the all round
development of individual personality. Society ensures harmony and cooperation
among individuals in spite of their occasional conflicts and tensions. If
society helps the individuals in numerous ways, great men also contribute to
society by their wisdom and experience.
Scientists, statesmen, reformers, philosophers, poets,
artists, intellectuals etc., have made rich contribution to social Me. IC
individual as, a social product benefits be the wisdom and experience of
society, and he also contributes to this store house of knowledge and
experience in whatever capacity he might be placed in society.
Thus society and individuals are bound by an intimate and
harmonious bond and the conflicts between the two are apparent and momentary.
In a well ordered society, there would be lasting harmony between the two.
