INVENTION AND PRODUCTION 239 



ogy which is very important in his social philosophy, especially 

 the theory of psycho-physical paralleKsm in so far as it asserts 

 that energy derived from metabolism must find expression in some 

 other form of activity, — muscular, intellectual or emotional, — 

 which theory is the basis of his doctrine of surplus energy.^ 



The development of social forces according to Patten is not 

 due entirely to an objective environment to which the organism 

 must adapt itself, perish, or move to a new environment, but to a 

 subjective environment made up of forms of thought and ideals,^ 

 which crystallize into knowledge and belief,^ and ultimately find 

 expression in customs, habits, social institutions and race ideals."* 



The change from one environment to another, demanding a 

 change in habits, beliefs and ideals, is fraught with great danger. ^ 



Extension of knowledge comes through organic reactions first 

 to sense of touch, then to vibrations in the surrounding mediima 

 through sensations of light, sound and smell. Fear is the first 

 sensation which a perception of these vibrations creates, — and 

 fear is usually connected with moving objects. The recogni- 

 tion of the world as an aggregate of materials shifts the interest 

 from pains to pleasures, with a corresponding increase of knowl- 

 edge.^ Soon the distinction is drawn between the natural and 

 the supernatural, — the former connected with pleasure, the 

 latter with pain. " The growth of knowledge is not due to 

 developed men coming in contact with more of nature. It is due 

 to beings of limited sensory powers gradually increasing their 

 powers as they are forced to know nature more intimately or to 

 come in contact with larger areas of the world. Each new 

 requisite for survival has caused the development of some new 

 sensory power, and has thus created an area of knowledge in- 

 dependent of the older areas, and in no logical connection with 

 them. Knowledge comes by leaps and bounds when a new 

 environment with new requisites for survival is entered.'^ ^ 



* Theory of Social Forces, pp. 26 f., 64; Heredity and Social Progress, chs. XI, 

 XVI; Theory of Prosperity, ch. XI; Annals, American Academy Political and Social 

 Science (1897) p. 34. 



2 Theory of Social Forces, p. 54. ^ Ibid., p. 56, ch. IV. 



' Ibid., pp. 49 ff. * Ibid., p. 60. 



* Ibid., pp. 53, 119. ' Ibid., p. 63. 



