NATURE OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCE. 523 



lative part and the operative part is presently followed by a distinc- 

 tion, which eventually becomes very marked, between the internal ar- 

 rangements of the two parts : the operative part slowly developing 

 within itself agencies by which processes of production, distribution, 

 and exchange are coordinated, while coordination of the non-operative 

 part continues on its original footing. 



Along with a development which renders conspicuous the separa- 

 tion of the operative and regulative structures, there goes a develop- 

 ment within the regulative structures themselves. The chief, at first 

 uniting the characters of king, judge, captain, and often priest, has his 

 functions more and more specialized as the evolution of the society in 

 size and complexity advances. While remaining supreme judge, he 

 does most of his judging by deputy ; while remaining nominally head 

 of his army, the actual leading of it falls more and more into the hands 

 of subordinate officers ; while still retaining ecclesiastical supremacy, 

 his priestly functions practically almost cease ; while in theory the 

 maker and administrator of the law, the actual making and administra- 

 tion lapse more and more into other hands. So that, stating the facts 

 broadly, out of the original coordinating agent having undivided func- 

 tions, there eventually develop several coordinating agencies which 

 divide these functions among them. 



Each of these agencies, too, follows the same law. Originally 

 simple, it step by step subdivides into many parts, and becomes an 

 organization, administrative, judicial, ecclesiastical, or military, having 

 graduated classes within itself, and a more or less distinct form of 

 government within itself. 



I will not complicate this statement by doing more than recognizing 

 the variations that occur in cases where supreme power does not lapse 

 into the hands of one man (which, however, in early stages of social 

 evolution is an unstable modification). And I must explain that the 

 above general statements are to be taken with the qualification that 

 differences of detail are passed over to gain brevity and clearness. 

 Add to which that it is beside the purpose of the argument to carry 

 the description beyond these first stages. But duly bearing in mind 

 that, without here elaborating a Science of Sociology, nothing more 

 than a rude outline of cardinal facts can be given, enough has been 

 said to show that, in the development of social structures, there may 

 be recognized certain most general facts, certain less general facts, and 

 certain facts successively more special ; just as there may be recog- 

 nized general and special facts of evolution in individual organisms. 



To extend, as well as to make clearer, this conception of the Social 

 Science, let me here set down a question which comes within its sphere. 

 What is the relation in a society between structure and growth ? Up 

 to what point is structure necessary to growth ? after what point does 

 it retard growth ? at what point does it arrest growth ? 



