Concept
Face (sociological concept)
Overview
In sociology, face refers to a class of behaviors and customs, associated with the morality, honor, and authority of an individual (or group of individuals), and their image within social groups. Face is linked to the dignity and prestige that a person enjoys in terms of their social relationships. This idea, with varying nuances, is observed in many societies and cultures, including Chinese, Arab, Indonesian, Korean, Malaysian, Laotian, Indian, Japanese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Thai, Persian, Russian, and other East Slavic cultures.
The usage of "face" in the English language is borrowed from Chinese. Face has particularly complex dynamics and meanings within the context of Chinese culture and is closely associated with Confucianism. The Chinese concept of face has also heavily influenced the cultures of Japan and Korea.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
In the original texts
Passages from public-domain books where Face (sociological concept) is discussed.
11). In the same sense the word is used in the following passage, “And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face,” i.e., both being present, without any intervening medium between them. Comp. “Come, let us look one another in the face” (2 Kings xiv. 8); and also “The Lord talked with you face to face” (Deut. v. 4); instead of which we read more plainly in another place, “Ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no…
Moses Maimonides, The guide for the perplexed
names the idea; states what it is
We have seen that in all parts of the world persons who feel shame for some moral delinquency, are apt to avert, bend down, or hide their faces, independently of any thought about their personal appearance. The object can hardly be to conceal their blushes, for the face is thus averted or hidden under circumstances which exclude any desire to conceal shame, as when guilt is fully confessed and repented of. It is…
Charles Darwin, The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals
names the idea; states what it is; opens on it
While beauty in my face is, With piety I'll stand, When age has killed my graces, Let Satan claim my hand!
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, The Joyful Wisdom
states what it is; names the idea; opens on it
A second point is that, when we recognize something, it was not in fact the very same thing, but only something similar, that we experienced on a former occasion. Suppose the object in question is a friend's face. A person's face is always changing, and is not exactly the same on any two occasions. Common sense treats it as one face with varying expressions; but the varying expressions actually exist, each at its…
Bertrand Russell, The Analysis of Mind
names the idea; states what it is
It is not the hearing of the word, but its accompanying intonation that is understood. To the language of intonation is added the no less forcible language of gesture. The child uses, not its weak hands, but its face. The amount of expression in these undeveloped faces is extraordinary; their features change from one moment to another with incredible speed. You see smiles, desires, terror, come and go like…
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Emile
names the idea; states what it is
Related ideas
- Persian language
- Germany
- Guilt (emotion)
- India
- Indonesia
- Heian period
- Japan
- Arab world
- Korea
- Authority
- Honour
- Laos
- Sociology
- Social relation
- Vietnam
- Performance
- Oxford English Dictionary
- Psychology
- Philippines
- Political science
- Russia
- Individual
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- South Korea
Place in the tradition
Part of Face-to-face (philosophy).
Explore Face (sociological concept) in the interactive graph →