236 ADAPTATION AND PROGRESS 



group of some sort as the sociological analogue, — especially 

 the state; with the present teaching, also, which distinguishes the 

 mere " sport " from the mutation that has adaptive value for the 

 species, the real genius in human society and his products, in so 

 far as they foster idealism, lead to group unity, and stimulate to 

 productive endeavor, are of the very greatest utility to the group. 



Finally, in his failure to give due consideration to social psy- 

 chology with its concepts of group consciousness and the expand- 

 ing self-regarding sentiment, he has left untouched one of the 

 most potent dynamics in social cohesion and social telesis. 



The social philosophy under review, however, with emphasis 

 on material achievement, on the power of intelligent volition and 

 on the value of that education which makes for control over the 

 forces of nature, has been so well adapted to the " age-spirit " of 

 all western nations during the past fifty years that it has exerted 

 a profound and lasting influence on sociological thought through- 

 out the world. More recent advance in biology, inductive social 

 science and especially psychology, tend to discredit some of 

 Ward's conclusions, yet he will ever rank as one of the foremost 

 of American sociologists and as one who has contributed most of 

 any, perhaps in the world, to the development of the doctrine 

 of active material adaptation. 



Simon N. Patten (1852- ) 



Pain-Pleasure-Creative Economy 



In the writings of Professor Patten we have a forceful example 

 of the statement made in the Introduction that the historical 

 tendency in social philosophy from Comte and Spencer to the 

 present has been in the line of increasing emphasis on active as 

 against passive adaptation. In Professor Patten's earlier writ- 

 ings, even in his Theory of Social Forces, the latter point of view is 

 dominant, whereas in his latest, The Reconstruction of Economic 

 Theory, his former position is criticized and corrected in the light 

 of changes that he admits have come into his own views in the 

 line of greater emphasis on creative activity. 1 



1 Cf. Seager's criticism, " Professor Patten's Theory of Prosperity," Annals, 

 American Academy Social and Political Science, March, 1902. 



