Week 7: Social Evolution Perspective

Social Evolution

It is a constant and steady reality that humankind is deemed to face as society grows and controlled and uncontrolled forces influence cultural beliefs.

• Social Evolution is evident because of social changes.

Social Changes

Social Evolution is evident because of _______.

Social Change

‘‘Change is constant.’’

In a general sense, It pertains to any change in interrelationships or relationships of people in a society. Change, as they say is an inevitable phenomenon; it may be individual in nature, relating to people in a small group, or affecting an entire society as a whole.

In defining the meaning of this, one should consider the following:

1. Number of affected people (Individual, group, society

2. Leangth of time ‘‘change’’ is measured.

Determination Theory

As man progresses, there is a tendency to move from happiness to discontent or dissatisfaction.

• As Plato mentioned in ‘‘The Republic,’’ that man is an insatiable animal, and this insatiability created a feeling of determination because of the ever-increasing need or hunger for more.

Oswald Spengler

He mentioned that society undergoes stages of birth, maturity, decline, and eventually - death.

• An example of this is the Roman empire which rose to power but eventually collapsed.

• Social change may signal progress to decline or decay, but the only consistent thing is that no society is permanent.

Vilfredo Pareto

He posits the cyclic movement of the elites in society. He percieved society to belong to a whole but consists of interdependent and interrelated parts. Any movement in any part will have a ripple effect on the other parts.

Arnold J. Toynbee

He is a British Philosopher who also supports the idea that society will undergo a cycle of growth, halt, and eventually a decline of civilizations.

Theory of Auguste Comte

He posits that society will undergo three stages of change religious, philosophic, and positive.

• Religious Stage-society’s action is dictated by a belief in supernatural power.

• A belief influences philosophic Stage-society’s behavior in the supernatural power; thus, man came to abstraction.

• Positive Stage - all things are studied empirically.

Theory of Herbert Spencer

Compare Social change to that of a microorganism. As per Spencer, society is innately militant and struggles for survival. To each of his own - every individual struggled to exist. This type of militant society moved to industrialism to differentiate itself and eventually moved to intergration.

Theory of Social Change by Karl Marx

He posits that Economic Factor is the one and the Only factor that is solely responsible for Social Change.

• He called this theory ‘‘deterministic’’ or the ‘‘single-factor theory’’ of change in society. This economic factor is the reason for the continuous class struggle in society.

Technological Change

We may be living in the Digital age; that is why ‘‘technology’’ is often associated with gadgets and the internet for many people. But when we say ‘‘technology,’’ it may be defined as applying our knowledge in creating tools and the use of natural resources. (Shaefer and Lamm, 1992). It may include machine that facilitate human interaction.

• Karl Marx also contributed to this and focused on the importance of technology in terms of production. According to him, technological developments have an effect on production and human relations, and the institutions that make up the economic scheme.

W.F. Ogbum

In his article, ‘How Technology Changed Society’ (1947) states that ‘

‘‘Technology changes by changing our environment, and the adjustment we make to the changes often modifies the customs and social institutions.’’

Leslie White

An anthropologist (Science and Culture, 1949) held that

‘‘Technology, particularly the amount of energy harnessed and the way in which it is used, determines the forms and content of culture and society.’’

automation

Social changes are brought about because of ________, such as labor, which in turn causes an increases in unemployment. Another Innovation has contributed to social change:

• Radio, wheel, printing press, compass, telephone, TV, planes, Internet, car, etc.

• Production of basic commodities and necessities also contributed to social change. Means of transportation and communication are continuously progressing, and ever-changing.

cellular phone or cellphone

The Advancement of technology has seen a radical improvement in the past decades. The most importantg adget that many of us use today is the _____. Its use is limited to communication and has become man’s universal remote because it now allow us to turn on some appliances and monitor our homes remotely.

Technology

According to (Shaefer and Lamm, 1992), it may be defined as applying our knowledge in creating tools and the use of natural resources. It may include machines or instruments that facilitate human interaction.

Deterministic or the single factor theory of social change

According to this theory by Karl Marx, it posits that the Economic factor is the one and the ONLY fatcor that is solely responsible for social change.

Technological Change

• Karl Marx also contributed to this and focused on the importance of technology in terms of production. According to him, technological developments have an effect on production and human relations, and the institutions that make up the economic scheme.