Inheritance (Sociology)
- This article is concerned with the inheritance of physical and monetary items as well as social heritage. For other uses, see Inheritance.
Inheritance is the practice of passing on property, titles, debts, and obligations upon the death of an individual. It has long played an extremely important role in human societies. A less common but no less important use of the term has to do with the notion that as human beings we receive an inheritance at birth from our family, society, culture, nation, and world. This second kind is a cultural or social inheritance rather than a physical or monetary one.
Inheritance Law
Historical Background
- In 18th Century B.C.E., the Hammurabi code of the Babylonian ruler of the same name allowed for both estate and intestate succession.
- In Swedish culture beginning from 13th century and up until 19th century, a son inherited twice as much as his sister. This rule was introduced by the Regent Birger Jarl, and it was regarded as an improvement in its era, since daughters were previously usually left without.
- Among ancient Israelites, the eldest son received twice as much as the other sons.
Modern Forms
Both anthropology and sociology have made detailed studies in the way that economic inheritance is most commonly understood. Many cultures feature patrilineal succession, also known as gavelkind, where only male children can inherit. Some cultures also employ matrilineal succession only passing property along the female line. Even more radical than the patrilineal succession is the practice of primogeniture whereby all property goes to the eldest child, or often the eldest son (the first-born). Conversely there are also systems where everything is left to the youngest child. Most states employ partible inheritance, whereby every child inherits (usually equally). Many modern states have inheritance taxes, whereby a portion of any estate goes to the government, though the government technically is not an heir.
The Influence of Forms of Succession
Employing differing forms of succession can effect many areas of society. Gender roles are profoundly affected by inheritance laws and traditions. Primogeniture has the effect of keeping large estates united and thus perpetuating an elite. With partible inheritance large estates are slowly divided among many descendants and great wealth is thus diluted, leaving higher opportunities to individuals to make a success. (If great wealth is not diluted, the positions in society tend to be much more fixed and opportunities to make an individual success are lower.)
Inheritance can be organized in a way that its use is restricted by the desires of the decedent (the term “decedent” is used in law to refer to a deceased person only in connection with their passing or the administration of their estate.) An inheritance may have been organized as a fideicommission, which usually cannot be sold or diminished, only its profits are disposable. A fideicommission's succession can also be ordered in a way that determines it long (or eternally) also with regard to persons born long after the original decedent. See also trust. Royal succession has typically been more or less a fideicommission, where the realm is not easily sold and the rules of succession not easily altered by a monarch.
Inheritance and Family Tradition
Inheritance can also be understood as a form of bequeathing tradition from one generation to the next. This is a fundamental expression of mutual human devotion between parents and their offspring. For parents, inheritance is the opportunity of leaving a legacy to their children. From the viewpoint of the decendant (child) there is an implicit responsibility and obligation to honor the parents for their sacrifice and investment of life, love and lineage.
Above and beyond material inheritance, parents share a responsibility to invest and sacrifice for the happiness and well-being of future generations. This sacrifice may invovle imparting widsom, guidance, and values to their children and grandchildren. Those who live with a dedication to the public purpose have this inter-generational obligation for the community, society, nation and world which they serve. Descendants of such a tradition of living for the sake of others naturally want to return dedication and sacrifice for the sake of their parents by attending and serving them, taking care of them in old age, and honoring their memory once they have passed away. The filial piety of the children can also be expressed by carrying on family traditions, caring for the well-being of the clan and even through fulfilling dreams of accomplishment which the parents themselves could not carry out.
Cultural Inheritance
Inheritance can also refer to the circumstances, cultural practices and surroundings into which a human being is born. This can include customs, heritage, legacies, systems of meaning, traditions, and values. Each person’s cultural inheritance varies greatly depending upon, among others, the era, the geographical location, as well as the socio-economic situation of one’s family. The era, for example, during which a person is born and raised, carries a unique “merit of the age” which can influence the events in a person’s life. Also, whether one is born in a eastern or western nation usually influences a person's upbringing and worldview.
While the circumstances at one's birth and the social and cultural heritage of one's youth seem to be absolutely determinant in shaping the quality, opportunities, and direction of a person’s life, they are not. There are numerous examples of individuals and families who charted a course for themselves or for the sake of others which could not have been imagined based upon their social or cultural inheritance alone.
Each person has their own way of integrating their cultural inheritance into their life selectively embracing certain aspects and rejecting or ignoring others. This process is ongoing and can occur consciously or unconsciously. Often, people live an entire life never examining the nature of this inheritance while others discover ways to improve or enhance the quality of their life by inventing or discovering new, often unconventional, paradigms for living.
Socialization
Socialization is the process whereby people acquire a social identity and learn the way of life within their society. Socialization is essentially a process of inheriting values. Socialization is classified into two types: 1) the primary socialization—of the young child in a family through parents and 2) the secondary socialization—through schools, institutions of religion, friends, associations, mass media, etc. At certain times in people's lives, they can experience desocialization and resocialization. Religious conversion or joining the military, are examples which may involve a process of desocialization and resocialization.
Sometimes resocialization is acheived when an individual or a group discovers ways to breakthrough personal or social limitations or by overcoming barriers which can include, among others, the "status quo." The status quo is understood as the current socially accepted norms for a society which are based largely upon formal and informal collective agreement. Through the ages and into the present, the biggest drawback with the status quo is that it often driven by predominantly secular, materialistic, or narrow-minded sectarian values which tend to foster low stardards concerning the very meaning, value and purpose of life. When unexamined, this influence tends to lead people to live selfishly both individually and collectively unless the given society happens to foster universal values and encourages living for the sake of others.
The status quo can be very exclusionary toward anything which is not considered "normal" or "acceptable" by the society such as new concepts which challenge established habits, outdated beliefs and obsolete traditions. The obstacles encountered by the civil rights movement in America is one example. Many times progress depends upon those willing or courageous enough to challenge the status quo for the sake of the greater good. Historically, civil disobedience has proven to be one of the most effective and noble means for creating social change. Religious leaders usually encourage prayer, fasting, self-sacrifice, education, service, and social-action as effective methods for overcoming the status quo and bringing about personal and social transformation.
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