l8o ADAPTATION AND PROGRESS 



the favorite and detested types of character." ^ The qualities 

 that go to make up the superior power of Enghshmen, he holds, 

 are these: (i) as a whole, greater command over the powers of 

 nature, viewed not only externally by results, but internally by 

 ability to do; (2) greater knowledge of how to use these forces of 

 nature, as for example, in the interest of the health and comfort 

 of the present body and mind. He quotes with approval Spen- 

 cer's phrase that " progress is an increase of adaptation of man 

 to his environment, that is, of his internal powers and wishes to 

 his external lot and life." ^ 



The progress of mafij he holds, requires the co-operation of men 

 for its development. If this cannot be secured, the group perishes. 

 A second principle is that " the co-operation . . . depends on a 

 felt union of heart and spirit; and this is only felt when there is a 

 great degree of real likeness in mind and feeling, however that 

 likeness may have been attained." ^ 



Bagehot grants a high place to religion in that it gives a con- 

 fidence in the universe, but especially to those religions that have 

 the most obvious effect in strengthening the races which beHeved 

 them, and in making those races the winning races; but no one 

 quality receives the meed of praise granted to animated modera- 

 tion.^ ^ 



Bagehot's Physics and Politics has been one of the most widely 

 read and quoted books in sociology and has exerted a profound 

 and lasting influence. In it we find the author bringing out the 

 four ideas we are presenting in this work, passive and active 

 material adaptation and passive and active spiritual (or social) 

 adaptation, granting to the last a far greater function in social 

 evolution than most whose writings we have considered. 



1 Physics and Politics, p. 206. ' Ibid., pp. 212, 213. 



2 Ibid., p. 209. ■* Ibid., p. 220. 



