Theory of Social Organization
From the family unit to the penal system, social organization is embedded in the human experience. The human need for order, communication, roles and purpose can be summarized as the desire for social organization.
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Function
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The primary objective of social organization is to form a network of individuals to achieve a common goal. The goal itself depends upon the institution powering the order.
The secondary objectives of social organization is relative to the established order and its overall purpose. Churches, for example, are assemblies of people organized for the purpose of worshiping God, soliciting others, and maintaining a set of regulations put forth by their leadership and sacred texts.
History
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It is probable that the oldest model of social order is the family unit. Although religious in nature, the Old Testament book of Genesis establishes this theory and it is one of the earliest manuscripts available. In 1994, the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed the family to be the "building block of society."
Thomas Hobbes in his book "Leviathan" (1651) promoted the theory of state sovereignty over the individual for the betterment of the individual and society overall. A few years later, however, John Locke rebutted Hobbes' theory in his own work, "The Second Treatise of Government" (1689) by stating, "People will do the right thing as a group." Thus they don't need force handed down by governments to do it.
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Models
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The primary models of social organization are created for the purpose of controlling human behavior and instituting standards or rules to live by in order to maintain a cultural civilization. These institutions -- governments, corporations and religions -- are established to control and aid a vast majority of people.
The secondary models of social organization, such as the family unit, social clubs, charities and sports teams, are networks that are created to achieve particular goals relative to their establishment.
Considerations
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Social order, like any other theory, has its proponents and its critics. Socrates, in his dialogue with Crito, proclaims that these institutions paved his way to his very existence and thus should be obeyed. Centuries later, however, another philosopher, Terence McKenna, stated that "culture is not your friend" and described civilization created by institutions as "not a pleasant situation."
Social organization has likely existed as long as human history itself due to an innate nature according to Aristotle. In his work, Politics, Aristotle states, "Man is by nature a social animal."
Conclusion
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The theory of social organization isn't just a theory, but a complex network of theories that proposes different models for the purpose of order and control of human behavior.
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