Philosophers have looked at societies and individuals without agreeing on the effects.

To greatly simplify, three views have formed:
1. people are not perfect, but society can be perfected
2. people are not perfect, but society can prevent people from regressing
3. people are not perfect, but people are capable of greatness

The first reflects Rousseau and utopian writers who see society as order-able and suited to defining individuals' behaviors, beliefs, and character. Communist theoreticians sought to have a "scientific" society constrained by laws. Socialists adopt this view.

The second reflects natural law philosopher Thomas Hobbes and religious writers who see society as required to control the baser tendencies of natural people.

The third elevates people to self-rule. Here, society is dynamic and emerges from autonomous individuals.

How a society changes depends on its expression. No society purely expresses just one of the models. Elements of all three appear in every nation and conflicts between the models is endless.