FUNCTION. 207 



re-distribution of functions. It is not easy to realize a trans 

 formation through which the functions thus become in one 

 sense separated and in another sense combined, or even inter 

 fused. Here, however, as before, an analogy drawn from 

 social organization helps us. If we observe how the increas 

 ing division of labour in societies is accompanied by a closer 

 co-operation ; and how the agencies of different social actions, 

 while becoming in one respect more distinct, become in another 

 respect more minutely ramified through one another; we 

 shall understand better the increasing physiological co 

 operation that accompanies increasing physiological division 

 of labour. Note, for example, that while local divi 



sions and classes of the community have been growing 

 unlike in their several occupations, the carrying on of 

 their several occupations has been growing dependent on 

 the due activity of that vast organization by which sus 

 tenance is collected and diffused. During the early stages 

 of social development, every small group of people, and often 

 every family, obtained separately its own necessaries; but 

 now, for each necessary, and for each superfluity, there 

 exists a combined body of wholesale and retail distributors, 

 which brings its branched channels of supply within reach of 

 all. While each citizen is pursuing a business that does not 

 immediately aim at the satisfaction of his personal wants, his 

 personal wants are satisfied by a general agency which brings 

 from all places commodities for him and his fellow-citizens 

 an agency which could not cease its special duties for a few 

 days, without bringing to an end his own special duties and 

 those of most others. Consider, again, how each 



of these differentiated functions is everywhere pervaded by 

 certain other differentiated functions. Merchants, manu 

 facturers, wholesale distributors of their several species, 

 together with lawyers, bankers, &c., all employ clerks. In 

 clerks we have a specialized class dispersed through various 

 other classes; and having its function fused with the dif 

 ferent functions of these various other classes. Similarly 



