Social ontology is the study of the nature and properties of social entities and phenomena. It examines how social facts, institutions, and relationships exist and interact within society. This field explores questions about what constitutes a group, a community, or a social norm, and how these elements shape human behavior and social structures. Key figures in social ontology include philosophers like John Searle and Margaret Gilbert, who have contributed to understanding collective intentionality and social groups. By analyzing the foundations of social reality, social ontology helps clarify how individuals create and maintain social constructs, influencing everything from politics to culture.