INTRODUCTION 



short work, both of the ethical and of the psy- 

 chological aspects of his problem. The more 

 subtle philosophical considerations regarding the 

 problem, as the history of thought has brought 

 them from time to time to light, Fiske indeed 

 does not consider. They obviously do not in- 

 terest him. We have to remember that the whole 

 discussion has for Fiske a practical motive, viz. 

 that of clearing the way in the reader's mind 

 for a study of the laws of social phenomena. 

 To these laws Fiske proceeds in chapter xviii., 

 on the " Evolution of Society." He first con- 

 siders the question of the universality of pro- 

 gress, and points out that the doctrine of evolu- 

 tion, as he understands it, is perfectly consistent 

 with affirming that in human history "progress 

 has been in an eminent degree contingent and 

 partial." For " the great fact to be explained is 

 either the presence or the absence of progress," 

 just as, in the theory of evolution, the matter to 

 be explained is the contrast between the condi- 

 tions that lead to evolution, and those that en- 

 tail dissolution. And just as evolution, as the 

 positive process, is the principal topic of study 

 in the Spencerian philosophy, while dissolution 

 is briefly explained as resulting from a reversal 

 of the conditions that determine evolution, so, 

 as Fiske now points out : " Whether manifested 

 or not in any particular community, progress is 

 Ixix 



