4H MIND IN EVOLUTION CHAP. 



as an instance, may be said to have a certain character of 

 its own which in some degree affects the individual balls 

 by pressure, for example, which imperceptibly alters 

 their figure, and presumably their molecular structure. 

 The definitions then must be taken as laying down two 

 limiting conceptions to which actual things approximate more 

 or less closely, and which are used in ordinary thought. 

 Thus, e.g., by the mechanical view of society is meant the 

 theory which treats human beings as being constant 

 quantities, whether in or out of their social relations. The 

 organic view of society recognises an interdependence 

 whereby the individual is modified by the very social 

 relations which he himself helps to build up. Without 

 going deeper into the nature of the organic principle, these 

 simple considerations may lead us to distinguish two main 

 lines of organic development. There is, first, degree of 

 organic unity. A whole is more organic in proportion as 

 the interdependence of parts is more complete, and one line 

 of advancing organisation will consist in perfecting this 

 unity. Then there is, secondly, scope of organisation. 

 Very simple elements may be very completely organised. 

 Much more numerous, diverse, or complex elements may 

 be less completely organised. In the first case, there is a 

 perfect organism of low or narrow scope. In the second, 

 an imperfect organism of a higher or wider scope. Scope 

 of organisation is proportioned to the diversity of elements 

 which go to build up its unity. A Rhizopod is not so 

 completely a unity as man is, but even if it were, it would 

 be a lower organism. It is a unity including much less 

 of differentiation. From this distinction, it will readily 

 appear that there are two methods by which organic unity 

 may develop. One is by the gradual obliteration of the 

 distinctive characters of the parts, wherein all that is opposed 

 to unity and organisation is worn away. The other is by 

 the working out of a type of organisation in which 

 there is room for more of difference and of what was 

 before contradiction. It is clear that it is only the 

 latter form of development by which organisation can grow 

 in perfection and in scope simultaneously. Taking the 

 two tests of Unity and Scope together, we may regard 



