Society is an agglomeration of individuals, pairs or couples, families, clans, and even tribes, backed by a shared location, possibly of diverse cultures, and bound by a unit of governance, occasionally by overlapping levels of government. For instance, my society is ruled by 3 governments. Links between the member units delineated above will include those of a mutual-dependency nature, viz. buyer/vendor, or boss/employee or bus driver/passenger, etc. Otherwise, the member units will be free to vibrate and move around in the manner of molecules in a medium, relating in a non-binding or casual manner with others, while yet guided by an agreed code of conduct.
The only member unit of a society with responsibility of a non-commercial nature for others is the family unit. Its responsibility is to prepare its young to participate as full members of their society when they become adults. The way the senior members of the family unit (which might include the grandparents and even uncles and aunts) carry out this significant core responsibility will no doubt reflect the values of the culture (and religion) into which they themselves were born, as well as their position on the ladder of spiritual progress. Their past lives, social conditioning, and their view of a desired future for the family can be expected to colour their performance as guides.
Without family, can society exist? That is, what will take society into the future? With increasing dysfunctional families in the more youthful nations of the Western world; their burgeoning rights-demonstrations reflecting the individualism of the modern West; the growth of single-parent families; and a dearth of civility (even in my parliaments), what is the likely future for society? Read ‘On family and society’ in ‘Musings at Death’s Door.’ This book was recommended by the US Review of Books and endorsed most supportively by a renowned Australian professor of history and politics.
RAJA ARASA RATNAM 