Expanded Social Reality: A New Framework to Study Social Systems

This thesis introduces a new framework for studying social phenomena beyond humans and animals, challenging the traditional division between natural and social sciences. It recognizes the organic continuum that humans are part of and establishes a practical approach to understanding social reality. The framework consists of three building blocks: interactions, relationships, and social units, emphasizing their importance in dynamic social systems. It proposes social units as cognitively autonomous individuals and applies the framework to groups and plants, exploring their potential as interactive social units. This expanded concept facilitates comparative investigations and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration in comprehending social behavior across species.