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Explore the intricate web of values, beliefs, and attitudes that shape societies. Learn about everyday ways of knowing and the evolution of human culture. Delve into early human societies and key historical events that have shaped our world.
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What is a society? • a shared, learned, symbolic system of values, beliefs and attitudes that shapes and influences perception and behavior -- an abstract "mental blueprint" or "mental code." • A shared perception of reality • Commonly known as • “Commonly known as” • Common sense • “They say” • “Everybody knows”
Ways of Knowing • We “know” lots of things. How do we know: • It’s hot outside • Veggies are good for you • Opposites attract • Smoking causes cancer
Everyday Ways of Knowing • Tenacity/Tradition • It’s always been true • You eat Turkey on Thanksgiving • Tied to prior held beliefs • Beliefs are hard to change • Flat Earth Society • What if knowledge has changed but beliefs haven’t? • Women belong at home, not in the workplace • I never advertised before, why should I now?
Everyday Ways of Knowing • Authority • Someone (who should know) says so • Doctor diagnosis • Mommy says so • What if that person is wrong? • Again, hard to change and may not consider new information
Everyday Ways of Knowing • Intuition or Logic • Truth is self-evident • Common sense • What if two individuals’ common sense tell them different things? • Politics • Religion
Problems with “Everyday” Ways • Filters how we process info • False premise; Illogical reasoning • Selective observation; expectations • Everyday ways of knowing can even lead to conflicting ideas about “truth” • Absence makes the heart grow fonder • Out of sight, out of mind
Why bother with societies and cultures? • Humans are weak • Societies are mutual support pacts
Let’s build a society • An individual • Two people • More than two… • Or twenty… • Or twenty million • 1st purpose of a society: reduce friction between people in the society • 2nd purpose: separate one society from others
Early Human Culture Small groups of around 25 Gatherer/hunters Nomadic Limited possessions more permanent settlements Became tribes xenophobia
End of the Ice Age • About 12,000 BCE • The high grasslands began to dry out • Tribes migrated down into the river valleys looking for food • Tigris/Euphrates • Indus • Yellow • Nile
