Io 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 gros in three different environments, E, E’, and E” 
res] ectively. Let P, P’, and P”, represent political parties, C, C’ and C” church organizations 
aa F, F’ and F” family groups, the individuals in each case being represented by I, I’ and I’. 
Sociology has as its scope to describe and if possible explain the following: (1) 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 E’; (4) the reciprocal relations between 
each group and its conser social organizations, ie., between S and P,CandF,S andP’, 
’ and F’ and S” and P”, C” and F”; (5) ne rec! eciproeal relations between each group and its 
constituent tele P e., between § and I, S' S” and I”; (6) the reciprocal relations 
between the organizations in each society, i. e., betwen P and (om Cand F, P and F, etc.; (7) 
the reciprocal relations between each organization and its constituent members, i. e., between 
Pand I, CandI, and F andJI,etc. But each group has its super-organic environment, that is, 
S is in relation with S‘ and gy 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 
