Individual (Sociology)

 

 

It has often been repeated that man is a social animal both by nature and necessity. Society is essentially both for the sake of life as well as a happy life. An individual requires society from the womb of the mother to the grave. Society is required to look after pregnant mothers and newly born babies in the cradle. Society is also required for the care of the mother and the baby both in the nursing home and at their residence. Perhaps there is no such aspect of human life, where a person does not feel the need and necessity of society either economic or social or political development or growth. An individual requires society for food clothing and shelter. The habits of a child are closely developed in society and a child develops and grows according to his social environment. According to Maclver: “The child does not merely imitate the social usages of adults. He is certainly imitative, but in the process of imitation, his social nature is gradually revealed “. We also find that an individual has a relationship with society due to social heritage: Each individual either man or woman inherits something from the past. To quote Maclver again." Every individual is the offspring of a social relation, itself determined by pre-established moves furthermore every person has a man or woman as essentially a term in a relationship. The individual is neither beginning nor end but a link in the succession of life."

What is an individual?  Individuals and society are very closely connected and linked with each other. But it is essential to understand what individuality is. Sometimes physical and biological meanings are attached to the term individuality where it is understood as involving the physical detachment of one unit with one another. But the Sociological meaning of individuality is quite different. Individuality in a sociological sense is that which reveals the members of a group as more than merely a member. The more he depicts the strength of character as a member of society, the more the degree to which he possesses individuality. Strength of character is understood as independence of judgement initiative and even power of discrimination. The individuality of an individual is expressed in society. But individuality and individualism are different from each other and as such both should not be confused. In the world of A.D. Lindsay," The history of odes shows that individualism is infinitely fruitful so long as individuality is regarded as something to be achieved and realized. But if individuality is thought of, as it has been in many individuality theories as something given and to be defended against attack, individualism loses its evocation force and becomes indistinguishable from egoism.

    Individuality and society. What is the relationship of an individual with society is a problem which has drawn the attention of economists, politicians and sociologists. Economists belonging to the classic school of thought and believe in the theory of laissez-faire and argue that for proper economic development and growth of the nation, the society should least intervene and provide maximum freedom to the individual. They believe that the freedom of the individual will provide free competition and thus shall be conducive to excessive production.

    Similarly, some of our political thinkers also believe that society should not intervene with the individuals. They may stress individualism. According to them, an individual knows much more about himself and his welfare than what society can know about his betterment. These thinkers therefore do not contribute to the idea that society should always and everywhere shadow the individuals.

    On the other hand, there are thinkers, both in the political and economic fields, who believe that individuals should completely merge themselves in this society. According to them, society should regulate their conduct and behavior. If this society does not exercise its power the result shall be that due to their selfish nature, the individuals will quarrel with each other and the whole social order will be disturbed. In the political feed, our sociologists go very near to this idea.

     Social limitations. Undoubtedly individuals and society are interdependent and without the one the other cannot exist despite this we find many social tensions and many a time an individual is found behind his social order and even challenges that. It is due to various reasons. One of the reasons is that Due to advanced means and communication and mass media communication methods as well as with the help of advanced means of propaganda, every attempt is being made at standardization. This is again a social limitation on an individual.