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Despite the many superficial differences among human societies, they all
have underlying similarities. People everywhere over the globe, no matter
when they lived, have all structured their societies in similar ways. We have
categorized these ways into the “Five Elements of Society,” which provide
us a structure to study human society.
A. Types of Government
1. Monarchy: rule by one person
2. Oligarchy: rule by a small group or committee
3. Democracy: rule by the people (through voting)
(Theocracy itself, or rule by a god or gods, is not a form of government.
There may be theocratic monarchies, oligarchies, or even democracies.)
(Anarchy: no government structure. Each person takes care of
him/herself.)
B. Functions of Government
1. Legislate: make laws
2. Adjudicate: judge laws
3. Execute: enforce laws
A. Questions of existence
1. Time.
a. origins of life
b. end of life (death)
2. Space
a. Where does the universe end?
b. most religions have some kind of cosmology (picture of universe)
4. Functions of Art
a) Art as communication (with God, society, other individuals)
b) Art as didactic/teaching
c) Art to give pleasure (catharsis)
d) Art to praise or criticise society
e) Art for art’s sake (ars gratia artis)