214 ADAPTATION AND PROGRESS 
After thousands of years of inter-group conflict and cultural 
development, the common-sense philosophy of the winning 
groups is essentially libertarian. Historically, fatalism has led 
to stagnation and decay. If belief in freedom is necessary, and 
this belief is nevertheless a delusion, then this is not a rational 
universe, but rests ultimately on falsity not truth. 
Social philosophy must rest its case on this pragmatic test: 
The ultimate truth as to the relation between mind and matter, 
and the ground of distinction between passive and active adap- 
tation will be based on that philosophy which is most inspiring 
to man. Science can give us at best but relations of co-existence 
and sequence between phenomena. Our ultimate explanation is 
hyper-scientific, — a matter of belief. 
One author, John Fiske, deserves special consideration in the 
treatment of this subject because he has brought to light a 
bio-sociological factor of first importance in the transition from 
passive to active adaptation in the individual, and as in other 
cases we will glance at his general social philosophy before 
taking up his specific contribution. 
Joun Fiske (1842-1901) 
Prolongation of Infancy 
This great American disciple and interpreter of Herbert 
Spencer varied from the teaching of his master in some points 
and at others supplemented and developed it. Accepting 
the evolutionary formula as a test of social progress he places 
more stress than did Spencer on a secondary test, — “ the con- 
tinuous weakening of selfishness and the continuous strengthen- 
ing of sympathy,” — thus reminding us of Comte. He goes 
beyond his master in his analysis of the spiritual environment 
which conditions the life of every individual and social group, but 
makes advance especially in the importance he places on the 
psychical factors in social evolution, coming to highest expression 
in the purposeful activity of men and in the organization of 
groups.' A spiritualistic monist and deeply religious, he stresses 
1 Outlines of Cosmic Philosophy, ii, chs. XXI, XXII. 
