利益社會考

Abstract

This is an attempt to reconstruct the idea of " Gescllschaft, " which was proposed by F. Tonnies as the contrast to the idea of " Gemeinschaft". As the fundamental features pf " Gesellschaft, " the author proposes openness and exterisiveness, which were not alluded to by Tonnies and his followers. These two factors, according to the author, lead to heterogeneity. Wherever these features exist, man adopts the rational way of thinking and behaving as a result of examining the value and importance of everything; and this attitude, together with the above mentioned features, tends to produce egocentric individualism. It is through contract that such egocentric individuals form a social group. The four features enumerated above produce the fifth feature which may be designated as changeableness. In such a society man tends to grasp everything in its abstract and universal aspect, neglecting its concrete and individual aspect. This tendency makes human relations formal and mechanical. Together with the rational attitude and other features already mentioned this fifth feature again contributes to attenuating the emotional life of man in society. On the other hand, taking advantage of sticking to formal observation of contract, the egocentric individual tries to benefit himself at the expense of others. As a consequence, in " Gesellschaft " human relations tend to be latent struggles. With regard to the political side of " Gesellschaft, " even though equality is nominally stressed in accordance with the rational attitude of egocentric individuals, those in power suppress those with less power. The latter subject themselves with resentment to the former, watching for a chance of opposition. Here is revealed the relation of latent struggle. If we take the economic side of such a society, we find individual ownership (Sondereigentum) as its basic principle. Here the ownership of a group consists of parts derived from individual ownership. The transfer of the ownership of a thing from one person to another is done in the form of exchange and not in that of donation. Thus here increases the importance of money ar a means of exchange.