INTRODUCTION

TO
SOCIOLOGY

ENVIRONMENT
AND
SOCIETY

Environment:
External conditions
affecting the life of
an organism, or
entire societies.

Natural Environment:
The earths surface and
atmosphere, including
organisms, air, water,
soil, and other resources
necessary to sustain life.

Three Functions:

Provides living space

Resources supply
depot.
Waste repository.

The three functions

may compete with
each other.

Due to increase in
population:
There is increase in
conflict among the three
functions.
Total human load may be
exceeding the carrying
capacity of ecosystem.

Ecology:
The study of
interaction of living
organisms and
natural environment.

Like any other species,

humans depend on
environment. But the
humans:
Have culture.
Transform the
environment.

Fundamental
social issues:

What the environment

means to people?
How do the meanings
change?

Global dimension:
Planet is a single ecosystem.
This planet is our home.
Changes in any part ripple
through the global ecosystem.

Historical dimension:
Continuous improvement of
technology.
From hunting societies to
industrial societies.
Humans consume natural
resources and release
pollutants.

Running an
environmental deficit:
Negative long term harm
to the natural environment
caused by humanitys
focus on short term
material affluence.

Population increase:
Demographic transition.
Population explosion.
Consumerism planet
suffers from over
development.

Cultural patterns:
Growth and limits
Construction of vision
of good life.
Logic of growth.
Finite resources.

Implement policies
to control:
Growth of population.
Production.
The use of resources.

INTRODUCTION
TO
SOCIOLOGY