270 



ADAPTATION AND PROGRESS 



Adaptation to the physical environment is science. . . . The totality of 

 the human sciences elaborates a conception of the universe as complete as 

 possible and if this conception were perfect the adaptation of man to his 

 cosmic environment would be absolute. 1 



The influence which one organism exerts on another is strong in proportion 

 to their resemblance or to their affinity. In that case movements produced 

 by one organism are reproduced spontaneously by the other. . . . Imitation 

 is passive adaptation to the social environment. 2 . . . 



Active adaptation to the physical environment has the same name in 

 sociology as in biology, — production. As the mental horizon of man is much 

 higher than that of animals he foresees the possibility of adapting his environ- 

 ment to his needs in a greater measure. Moreover as his faculty of prevision 

 becomes greater, production takes two forms: man can transform external 

 objects for his immediate use but he can also create utilities to enable him to 

 adapt a portion of the planet to his needs (as digging canals, draining 

 swamps, irrigating arid lands, etc.). . . . Organization and biological tools 

 on the one hand and science and social tools on the other are in the closest 

 co-ordination. . . . 



The active adaptation of the social environment can be designated by the 

 general term love. Indeed to love any one is to desire to make that person 

 like oneself. Charity has for its goal to procure for others the material well- 

 being which we ourselves enjoy. The apostle, the propagandist, have for 

 their aim to lead others to think as they do. Charity and propaganda are 

 the two forms which bring about the active adaptation of the social environ- 

 ment. 3 



The forms and processes of adaptation as explained by Novicow 

 are shown in the following diagram: 4 — 



Adaptation 



* Novicow with Aristotle identifies knowledge with power, but man's actual 

 adaptation to his environment is never on a par with his knowledge. 



2 Here our author follows the now discarded theory of instinctive imitation. 

 Such a theory fails to give sufficient prominence to individuality and the satisfac- 

 tion of individual interests by instinct and habit. 



* Les Luttes, pp. 38-40. 



* Ibid., p. 41. 



