Man and Society

Abstract

There is a question which must be decided before any sociology can lay claim to rationality or sanity; which, in a sense, precedes even any discussion of a sociology, although its postulates have become a part of Christian tradition and Christian philosophy. It is the question recent philosophy has made it a of the relation of man to The Catholic trained sociologist usually sees no difficulty in the matter the stock answer is that Society is for man, not man for society. But this particular position is untenable, unless bolstered by qualification. An exact understanding of the relative positions of the person and of society is essential; and exact understanding is notably lacking in the valuable but vague platitude just quoted. Admittedly a part of philosophy, rather than of sociology proper, solution of the dilemma is absolutely necessary to the orientation of sociology as a science, and social work as an art. It has important bearing also upon the question of a or a sacred sociology. Case work, group work, secular sociology, and the theological interrelationship of men can be synthesized only if we can determine definitely what man is, and why society is. This paper, of course, makes no pretense to a definitive solution, or synthesis. The elements of the question are clear enough and have been for centuries; the synthesis must await a fuller treatment. It is an attempt, however, to block out the problem, to establish the general outlines which a solution must fill in. Man is, of course, a rational animal a person. But, possibly before he was recognized specifically as a rational animal, he was classified as a social animal. And there are the elements of conflict. Neither of these definitions can be impugned, of course. Leo XIII, to cite but one authority and example, has pointed out that Man's natural instinct moves him to live in civil society, for he cannot, if dwelling apart, provide himself with the necessary requirements of life, not procure the means of developing his mental and moral faculties. Hence, it is definitely ordained that he should 186