Get Oriented to Societal Institutions

This Subject Matter is Difficult

This orientation to societal institutions-PH'5Q4 as a category of associations does not accord with the usual pattern because the subject matter is so difficult.

If you do not wish to be warned about difficulties and desire to plunge in, then you should commence with the introduction.

A moment's thought tells us that everyone within a territorially-bounded society and subject to its laws forms a large group, commonly referred to as a country or nation-state. However, the notion of diverse institutions, each involving all in that society is less obvious.

It seems fair to suggest: :

ClosedNote for Academics

Niklas Luhmann is a German Professor of Sociology who has produced a theory in which society is based on multiple interacting systems. These appear to be identical or equivalent to societal institutions as considered here. Interestingly, Luhmann gives communication and meaning a central role. Unfortunately, his extensive writings are difficult to read and he himself describes his theory as "labyrinthine". The present account does not derive from his work and is built using taxonomic principles applied to ideas and observations available to academics and laypersons alike.

Samuel Huntingdon, an American political scientist, defined institutions as "stable, valued recurring patterns of behaviour" which seems too abstract for our purposes. Douglas North, an American economist, defines institutions as "humanly devised constraints that shape human interaction", but this is equivalent to a rule or norm, which is far too broad for our purposes.

In a topic titled "Ideas about «The Economy»" written over 10 years ago, I mistakenly stated: "The economy is an abstraction with no real world reference." I now think that "the economy" is probably the best name that can be given to the societal institution that deals with the personal-communal need to earn a living and create wealth within a particular society.

There is also a problem in making observations of institutions. This form of associating is only possible in politically developed societies i.e. those at least in Stage-2 and ideally at Stage-4 in the Spiral for Political Maturation (PH'6C). Most current societies are striving to transit from dominance by authoritarian values, and that muddies the waters.

Keep in Mind:

The proposition here is that society's members are responsible for the existence of societal institutions—i.e. their rationale and nature—which is a matter of sustaining specific values and beliefs.

The institution provides a context of social values and ethical rules (norms), but it is not directly engaged with the delivery of services, the creation of regulations, the production of goods &c, which occur within other entities like organisations and governmental bodies.

Terminology is a Problem

One of the problems is the absence of an agreed popular name or academic term for the taxonomic entity with the formula PH'5Q4. As noted above, there is the use of concepts like "the economy", or use of the term "system" to suggest unification with complexity as in the "educational system".
ClosedMore on naming:

Nothing is more confusing than to use different names for the same thing or the same name for different things. In striving to avoid this problem, the Taxonomy adopts the safest way: use of a formula that specifies a location in the structure. But formulae are too hard when initially reading an exposition. Neologisms are not much better. Evocative terms are best even if they can generate some confusion.

See an account of naming in the Hub.

The full phrase «societal institution» will be the formal name for a very specific category of associating with the taxonomic formula PH'5Q4. I preface «institution» with «societal» to emphasize that this association ramifies through a modern society, but not beyond its borders. The members of the association are society's inhabitants. The «societal» qualifier will often be taken as understood and «institution» will be in blue font as a reminder that the term is a THEE name.

While we will use «institution» specifically for PH'5Q4, we are aware that in everyday life, in dictionaries, and even elsewhere on this website, the term is used with other meanings, Closedfor example:

"Institution" commonly implies a large or important organisation, as in a "the World Bank is an essential financial institution". It may refer to an organisation that is non-commercial e.g. "Harvard is a great academic institution". It may refer to publicly-funded or governmental organisations e.g. "a mental institution", "a standards institution".

The verb "institute"just means "to formally set up a social body, policy or rule". For example, a component of any regulatory authorities (PH'6G52) is an «instituting body» that sets them up. Naturally, the result might be labeled an "institution".

The term is also used rather differently to refer to established practices or customs e.g. the institution of marriage, jogging as an institution, democratic institutions.

Note: In these senses, politically primitive authoritarian societies also have institutions.

Read more about terminological difficulties here.

Warning of Bias

As will be explained, societal institutions exist to ensure personal and communal needs are met. They replace family or kin-based responsibility for needs as found in bands and tribes.

In the material and examples offered, I will be drawing heavily on my experiences with healthcare and government, and on my Australian background.

While every culture and society has common personal and social needs (i.e. social values-PH6L5), these are shaped in practice by their culture, specifically value systems and beliefs (PH6L6). Even within a society people will differ in the weight given to different PH6L7-ultimate values and PH6L5-social values leading to varying practices.

It is likely then that illustrative examples may generate controversy due to the reader holding different values, or participating in institutions that are differently organised from the example offered.

Next steps:

Originally posted: 14-Nov-2022. Last amended: 30-Apr-2023.O