CIVOLOGY—A SUGGESTION 369 



kind represent so many organic variations of the human species, 

 effected through the interaction of variability and environment, and 

 established by adaptation and selection. Now each of these races and 

 every variety of the human species has contributed something to the 

 sum total of civilization. So it seems, in man's case, the line of organic 

 evolution is succeeded and supplemented by a line of super-organic 

 development. And as the line of organic evolution is characterized by 

 countless variations culminating in the several races and numerous 

 varieties of man, even so is the line of super-organic development char- 

 acterized by successive states of civilization, established by the several 

 races and numerous varieties of man. These states of civilization like- 

 wise can be classified according to their complexity and arranged in an 

 ascending series, culminating, if you like, in the existing civilization 

 of the Anglo-Saxons — though this again is a matter of opinion, or 

 prejudice perhaps. But whatever the order of their arrangement, of 

 this I am quite convinced: these states of civilization connote in last 

 analysis so many systems of utilization. My concept of the subject 

 may seem somewhat restricted, but I assure you it will expand as we 

 proceed, meanwhile I ask you only to accept the connotation provi- 

 sionally, as a possible point of departure. 



This at least is obvious : in order to live and move and have their 

 being — to say nothing of meliorating their material condition — human 

 beings are obliged to utilize the resources at their disposal. The man- 

 ners in which and the means and methods whereby they do so are 

 determined by the circumstances — physical, social and historical — 

 within which they strive. Circumstance constitutes, accordingly, the 

 extrinsic cause or condition of utilization. The intrinsic cause in this 

 case is the psychological principle of utility, which is the quality of 

 satisfying wants — an elusive and very variable quality, to be sure, none 

 the less appreciable for all that. All men seek to satisfy their wants, 

 therefore all men may be said to strive after utility. The quality in 

 question supplies, as it were, the stimulus, the incentive, or better per- 

 haps, the motive that makes for utilization. So I should say utility 

 constitutes the progressive principle of super-organic development, even 

 as variability constitutes the progressive principle of organic evolution. 

 To acquire such utility and so satisfy their wants, men, as I have said, 

 must utilize the resources at their disposal, in the manner and by the 

 means and methods most in accordance with their circumstances. So 

 it appears super-organic systems of utilization are, like organic varia- 

 tions, the outcome of an interaction between intrinsic and extrinsic 

 factors, utility and circumstance in this case. Looking along the line 

 of super-organic development, the general tendency appears to be 

 toward the augmentation of utility accompanied by increasing com- 

 plexity in the process of utilization. This is due to the expansion of 



vol. lxx. — 23. 



