228 Evolution of Society. 



ABSTRACT OF THE DISCUSSION. 



Mb. Z. Sidney Sampson: — 



I have listened with interest to the lecture of Mr. Skilton. I 

 hesitate, however, to speak upon such a wide subject as Sociology 

 in the limited time at my disposal. It is interesting to learn from 

 the speaker that we are called "godless Spencerians," for even 

 abuse is better than indifference, and may lead to enlightenment. 

 The early Christians were denounced as Atheists, and it has been 

 the fate of the representatives of each higher and more rational 

 view of the divine nature to be regarded as atheistical. The cor- 

 rection of such misapprehensions may well be left to time and 

 growing intelligence. 



The lecturer has presented various practical suggestions and ap- 

 plications of the principles underlying the evolutionary view of the 

 growth of society. Perhaps it may be useful if I attempt to define 

 a little more clearly the terms "integration" and "differentia- 

 tion," as these terms are applied by Mr. Spencer in describing the 

 process of social evolution. Social integration is the compacting 

 or condensation of individuals into communities. Social differen- 

 tiation is the specialization of these communities — the tendency 

 to classify the different functions of our complex social life, and 

 to allot each to a separate class, profession or trade. Mr. Spencer 

 applies to society the same principle which he finds dominant 

 throughout the field of biological evolution. The same law which 

 governs the differentiation and integration of protoplasm into the 

 countless forms of animal and vegetable life, applies also to society, 

 he affirms. The loose particles integrate, and form either animal 

 or social organisms, developing such organs as are necessary for 

 the maintenance of the well-being of each. As the biological pro- 

 cess is the resultant of the interaction of the organism with the 

 environment, so in social evolution it is an external pressure which 

 compels differentiation, producing government, commerce, relig- 

 ious and educational institutions, diversity in trade and industries 

 — all the manifold functions of the complex life of society. Spen- 

 cer' s argument from analogy, tracing the same law from vegetable 

 to animal, from animal to man, from man to society regarded as 

 an organism, is exceedingly ingenious, and seems almost conclu- 

 sive. 



