10 INTRODUCTION 



The complexity of the task of social philosophy and of the 

 social problems to be solved by the theory of adaptation is illus- 

 trated by the following diagram: — 



Let S, S', and S" represent three social groups in three different environments, E, E\ and E* 

 respectively. Let P, P', and P", represent political parties, C, C' and C church organizations 

 and F, F' and F* family groups, the individuals in each case being represented by 1, 1' and F. 

 Sociology has as its scope to describe and if possible explain the following: (i) the physical 

 and psychical differences that characterize the individuals of the three groups as determined 

 by use of the normal frequency curve; (2) the socio-psychical differences between the groups 

 considered as unities; (3) the reciprocal relations between each group and its physical en- 

 vironment, i. e., between S and E, S' and E', S" and £"; (4) the reciprocal relations between 

 each group and its constituent social organizations, i. e., between S and P, C and F, S' and P', 

 C' and F and S* and F 7 , C* and F"; (5) the^ reciprocal relations between each group and its 

 constituent members, i. e., between S and I, S' and I', S* and I"; (6) the reciprocal relations 

 between the organizations in each society, i. e., between P and C, C and F, P and F, etc.; (7) 

 the reciprocal relations between each organization and its constituent members, i. e., between 

 P and I, C and I, and F and I, etc. But each group has its super-organic environment, that is, 

 S is in relation with S' and S", etc. This complicates the problem further as follows: Each 

 social organization is in reciprocal relations with similar organizations in each of the other 

 groups, each individual in one group is subject to influences from any individual in another 

 group, and, indeed, one group as a unit may conceivably be modified by an individual from 

 another group. This complication, however, is even less important than one arising from the 

 fact that the intra-group organizations overlap, as indicated by the intersecting circles, so an 

 individual may belong to two or more organizations. At times there is conflict of interests 

 between the individual and the organization to which he belongs or between the organizations 

 as unities. 



Social philosophy as before suggested has as its task to see the 

 whole social process as a unity, if possible, and out of the chaos of 



