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About society

Bits and pieces for educational purposes

Generated by the project team in 2021

Erasmus+ school project “May ICT be with you”

CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

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Definitions of society

Source: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/society

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Types of society

  • Hunter-gatherer societies
  • Pastoral societies
  • Horticultural societies
  • Agricultural societies

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Reputable scholars of sociology

Max Weber (German sociologist)

Émile Durkheim (French social scientist)

Herbert Spencer (British philosopher)

Auguste Comte (French philosopher)

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“Those who tell the stories rule society.”

― Plato

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How to measure a society?

  • Against Gross Domestic Product?
  • Against happiness?
  • Against ‘eudaimonia’?

The Greek philosopher Aristotle once said that “happiness depends upon ourselves.” (Image: Public Domain)

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Basic human needs

  • Nutrition & basic medical care
  • Water & sanitation
  • Shelter
  • Personal safety

Wellbeing

  • Access to basic knowledge
  • Access to info & communications
  • Health & wellness
  • Ecosystem & sustainability

Opportunity

  • Personal rights
  • Personal freedom & choice
  • Tolerance & inclusion
  • Access to advanced education

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“Europe was created by history. America was created by philosophy.”

― Margaret Thatcher

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Society and the EU

  • A vibrant civil society
  • Democracy
  • Good governance
      • Welfare
      • Education
      • Culture

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Final words

“Our world is on the move. Where it goes is our decision. /.../ Let’s choose to live in good societies, where everyone has the opportunity not only to survive, but to thrive.“

― Michael Green

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Discussion questions

  1. Do you have a vision of a better society? What changes would you make?
  2. What do you think are the characteristics of a good member of society?
  3. Which is more important, economic development or social values?
  4. Which is more important, modern society or traditional ways?
  5. Why is history important to society?

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Web sources