We have long been accustomed to the concept of society and do not even think, as a rule, about its meaning. Meanwhile, among researchers in this regard there is no consensus. The structure and functions of society in various theories are sometimes determined diametrically opposite. If we consider the main interpretations, we can distinguish a number of specific features characteristic of society.
Characteristics of society as a system
Despite the prevailing variety of interpretations, there are certain points of intersection that allow you to form a more or less clear idea of society, based on basic principles.
For example, when determining the structure and functions of society, most researchers agree that society is necessarily a group of people united on some basis. Many as a basic element distinguish territorial affiliation, calling it its main forming factor. Nevertheless, a society may be called a labor collective, a school class, or, for example, members of a beadwork circle. Thus, we can say that a unifying criterion can be a community of interests, the separation of a certain ideology and other external circumstances.
An equally important factor affecting the functions of society can be called a deep internal relationship between the elements of a particular society. Within such systems, a certain hierarchy is always established, a system of dependencies is formed.
To summarize all of the above, we can say that society is a kind of organic unity, formed historically or under the influence of certain external factors.
What can contribute to the formation of society
- Features of work.
- Geographical position.
- Religious beliefs.
- Color of the skin.
- Language used.
- Cultural values.
- Ideological position.
Difficulty in determining the structure
At first glance, the functions of society, as well as the features of its formation, seem to be a fairly simple and understandable phenomenon. Nevertheless, there is no consensus on this score either. The main difficulty lies in the fact that on Earth there are countless societies, each of which will have its own hierarchy, its own laws and concepts.
A look at the structure of Auguste Comte
This point of view is considered one of the most optimal and applicable to most societies. The French thinker identified only three components of the system, three sets of organs that perform certain functions.
- Regulatory, or, according to other sources, managerial. This set of elements is a kind of apex of society, its leadership. With regard to the state, it is appropriate to talk about power structures; smaller societies also have their own leader or several people engaged in managerial activities.
- Production. On this part of society, we can say that the whole totality of elements rests. This is a kind of mediator between the upper and lower layers of a particular structure.
- Distribution. The lower part of the pyramid forming a society, according to Auguste Comte.
Marxian view of things
The author of Capital saw the structure and functions of society a little differently. The philosopher identified only two main groups: basic and superstructure. To the first, Marx and his followers attributed the elements forming the economic component, and to the second - all the others. Speaking about the functioning of such a complex system as society, this researcher argued that the superstructure is formed by the basis.
What is society needed for?
The main functions of society are determined by the conditions in which it operates. The primary goal in this regard is to create an environment that is comfortable to meet the needs of all elements of the structure. Of course, this is not all. The main functions of society include:
1. Adaptation
The system adapts to any external conditions to preserve itself. Environmental factors influence the formation of society, and vice versa.
2. Goal setting
Any society is a system whose work is aimed at achieving a certain result.
3. Coordination
Each individual individual entering society has a certain range of interests that forms a society and is simultaneously formed by it.
4. Stabilizing
Each society has its own system of ideals, values and beliefs, which acts as the main formative factor. Becoming a part of such a system, the individual fits his own consciousness into the established framework.
In general, the functions of modern society are determined by external conditions. Each system adapts to certain factors, acquiring certain traits to achieve specific goals and meet needs. In the context of hostilities, for example, a society can fulfill a protective function, or, conversely, strive to destroy another society or a specific individual.
In order for the system to fully function, it must be balanced, hierarchically distributed, and have some kind of main, basic goal that contributes to the natural unification of individuals. As for external conditions, they do not have to be exceptionally favorable for society to develop. Sometimes the catalyst for this process is just external pressure. Society in this case is formed as a result of a reaction to a stimulus.
Most often, society is understood as a state entity, but in reality, this definition covers a wide variety of social groups, ranging from people in the family circle to ethnic groups and the world’s population as a whole. In this regard, each individual society will have its own adequate organization structure with a specific distribution of roles that perform certain functions.
