FORMULAE OF SOCIAL PROGRESS 205 



holds, is pre-eminently social, and " its chief trait is a conscious- 

 ness of kind wider and stronger than in animal groups." * 



Like-mindedness is of two kinds, formal and rational. The 

 former is seen in the popular acceptance of tradition and obedience 

 to rules and precepts embodied in them, and is produced (1) by 

 the tendency to accept as true the thing vividly imagined or 

 desired, especially if believed by others in whom one has confi- 

 dence, or if handed down from the past, and (2) by direct teaching 

 and discipline. 2 



Rational like-mindedness is the result of criticism and the basis 

 of public opinion. " Public opinion comes into existence only 

 when a sympathetic like-mindedness or an agreement in belief is 

 subjected to criticism, started by some skeptical individual who 

 doubts the truth of the belief, or the wisdom of the agreement; 

 and an opinion is then thought out to which many communicating 

 minds can yield their rational assent." 3 The chief method of 

 developing public opinion is by discussion, and, indeed is propor- 

 tional to discussion. 4 



Component societies, for the most part genetic aggregations 

 and characterized by likeness of type, are classified as families, 

 ethnical groups (hordes, tribes, confederations) and demotic 

 groups (families, neighborhoods, hamlets, parishes, towns, cities, 

 states). 5 Constituent societies based on likeness of purpose are 

 classified as household, clan and other tribal associations, and 

 various civil societies and private or public associations, including 

 political, juristic, economic, and cultural. 6 Although the 

 development of component societies depends on likeness in type, 

 that of constituent societies and of the social constitution " de- 

 pends upon the growth of an appreciation of the value of variety 

 or unlikeness in society." 7 Whether the like-mindedness is 

 formal or rational determines the character of the social organiza- 

 tion as to whether it is predominantly coercive or liberal. 

 " Social organization is coercive," he says, " in those commun- 

 ities in which sympathetic and formal like-mindedness strongly 



1 Elements, p. 241. 6 Ibid., pp. 179 f. 



2 Ibid., ch. XIV, especially pp. 152, 153. 6 Ibid., pp. 193 f. 



3 Ibid., pp. 155 f. 7 Ibid., p. 215. 

 * Ibid., p. 156. 



