THE PATH OF DEGENERATION IN SOCIOLOGY 205 



However, even when the most recent organs 

 disappear first, we cannot speak safely of a law 

 of degeneration inverse to evolution. In the 

 actual evolution of many organs, parts have 

 appeared and then completely disappeared. If 

 degeneration were a true inverse of evolution, 

 it would be necessary that such lost parts should 

 reappear only to disappear again. Such observa- 

 tions apply both to ontogeny and phylogeny. 



CHAPTEE II 



THE PATH OF DEGENERATION IN SOCIOLOGY 



1. Investigation of facts. 



WE have now to see if degenerative evolution in 

 social matters retraces the steps of progressive 

 evolution. 



In the first place the question cannot be even 

 entertained with regard to some cases, and this for 

 a general reason which will be dealt with later on. 



When a complex institution such as a com- 

 mercial society or an administrative organization 

 becomes useless and ceases to be functional, it usually 

 disappears either by voluntary dissolution or else it 

 is legally suppressed. In either case there is no 

 slow retrogressive degeneration retracing inversely 

 the steps of progress, for all the parts cease to 



