Society

This central concept in the study of sociology is Society which can be defined as:

" A relatively independent, self-perpetuating human group, which occupies a territory, shares a culture and has most of its associations within this group" (Horton and Hunt)

" A place with a designated border where people live, interact, and share a culture" (Macionis)

" Society is a large number of people who live in the same territory, are relatively independent of people outside it and participate in a common culture" (R.T. Schaefer)

Society is a permanent institution. Its exact origin is unknown to history. It emerges from the original instincts of a man and continues to exist till the existence of man. It is not a mere structure. It refer to the whole system of social relationships. It rests on the stats of mind of individuals who comprise society  

Some Popular Definitions by Famous Sociologists 

1.   Ginsberg states, “A society is a collection of individuals united by certain relations or modes of behaviour which mark them off from others, who do not enter into those relations or who differ from them in behaviour.” 
2.  According to F.H. Giddings, “Society is the union itself, the organization, the sum of formal relations in which associating individuals are bound together”. 
3.  According to G.D.H. Cole, “Society is the complex of organized associations and institutions within the community”. 
4.  According to J.F. Cuber, “A society may be defined as a group of people who have lived long enough to become organized and to consider themselves and be considered as a unit more or less distinct from other human units.” 
5.  Functional views of society: According to the functional views society is a process of social relationships. It considers society a complex of groups in reciprocal relationships, interacting among themselves carrying on an interdependent life and helping each other fulfil their wishes. Supporters of this view are MacIver and Page, Parsons, Cooley, Leacock and others. 

•   According to Maclver and Page, “Society is a system of usages and procedures, authority and mutual aid, of many groupings and divisions, of controls of human behaviour and of liberties”. 
•  According to T. Persons, “Society may be defined as the total complex of human relationship in so far as they grow out of action in terms of means and relationship, intrinsic or symbolic.” 
•  According to C.H. Cooley, “Society is a complex of forms and processes each of which is living and growing by interaction with the others, the whole being so unified that what takes place in one part affects all the rest.”

      Society can be defined and understood by keeping in view the following characteristics: 

Society is Sui Generis: Society is Sui generis, which means it has a relatively independent existence of its own. No doubt that society represents and is actually constituted by the organised interaction of individuals. However, once it has been made it takes a reality of its own this point can be understood by taking the example of the human body. The human body is made up of many parts but once those parts have constituted the body the parts are defined in relation to the whole. Likewise, society is constituted by individuals but once it has been made individual needs society for survival.

Human Group: Society is the largest human organization and comprises many social groups.

Satisfying: Society provides certain means to humans in order to satisfy their needs in a way that he social order remains undisturbed. 

Dynamics: Society is a moving equilibrium. It is not static. Society adopts the new needs of new needs of humans by adjusting its structure and institutions.

Interdependent: Society represents an integrated whole. The parts that seem relatively independent are actually interdependent. Any change in one part of the system would trigger a change in the other as well.

Social interaction: Society is a place where individuals interact in a defined social structure comprising statuses and roles.

Social institutions: The structure of society is defined by the social institutions present in it. Social institutions are sub-parts of society that are structured to fulfil some human needs e.g.  family, education, politics, etc.

Technology: The development and change of our society depend on its level of technological competence. When our society becomes more technologically complex it is more likely to change.

Culture: Society is defined by its own culture that provides its members appropriate ways to behave.

Geographical boundaries: The contemporary concept of society is defined by its geographical boundaries due to the existence of nation-states. Every society operates in a defined geographical boundary so that it can be separated from others. 

Code of Conduct:  Each society has formal and informal mechanisms of social control so that the behaviour of members can be regulated.

Socialization: One of the defining characteristics of society is the process of socialisation where individuals are made to learn the patterns that help the survival of the society.