DEPARTMENT OF SPECULATIVE PHILOSOPHY. 



ME. SPENCER'S SOCIAL ANATOMY. 



By H. M. SIMMONS, of KenoEha. 



The ancient and hackneyed simile comparing social to animal 

 structure, at length assumes scientific form in Herbert Spencer's 

 last volume (" Principles of Sociology "). His comparison is very 

 ingenious. Individuals are the cells of the social structure ; 

 although not in physical contact like animal cells, still through 

 language and various influences they become virtually in contact. 

 The earliest social organizations are small and loose groups where 

 each individual retains a large measure of independence ; like a 

 cluster of vorticellae or a sponge, where each cell retains its sep- 

 arate life. But with advancing society the organizations grow 

 larger, population like animal tissue grows denser, and the indi- 

 vidual like the cell becomes more dependent on the aggregate, as 

 the differentiation of structure and function advances. A savage 

 tribe, like a rhizopod, is homogeneous, each part serving for any kind 

 of work at demand. But with advance society separates into 

 classes, with increasing division of labor, just as rising animal 

 structure shows its increase of organs. 



The first differentiation in Mr. Spencer's analysis is between out^ 

 side and inside. In the animal, outside hardens and assumes 

 organs of defense and attack, while inside becomes stomach and 

 varied alimentary system. So society separates into an outer 

 class of masters, warriors, and rulers for protection, and an inner 

 class o£ slaves and laborers for procuring and preparing sustenance. 

 Between inside and outside must be another system to distribute 

 the sustenance when prepared. This becomes circulation in the 

 animal and commerce in the state. Finally in the outer layer of 



