第1章
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  MINDisanorganicwholemadeupofcooperatingindividualities,insomewhatthesamewaythatthemusicofanorchestraismadeupofdivergentbutrelatedsounds。Noonewouldthinkitnecessaryorreasonabletodividethemusicintotwokinds,thatmadebythewholeandthatofparticularinstruments,andnomorearetheretwokindsofmind,thesocialmindandtheindividualmind。Whenwestudythesocialmindwemerelyfixourattentiononlargeraspectsandrelationsratherthanonthenarroweronesofordinarypsychology。

  Theviewthatallmindactstogetherinavitalwholefromwhichtheindividualisneverreallyseparateflowsnaturallyfromourgrowingknowledgeofheredityandsuggestion,whichmakesitincreasinglyclearthateverythoughtwehaveislinkedwiththethoughtofourancestorsandassociates,andthroughthemwiththatofsocietyatlarge。Itisalsotheonlyviewconsistentwith,4thegeneralstandpointofmodernscience,whichadmitsnothingisolateinnature。

  Theunityofthesocialmindconsistsnotinagreementbutinorganization,inthefactofreciprocalinfluenceorcausationamongitsparts,byvirtueofwhicheverythingthattakesplaceinitisconnectedwitheverythingelse,andsoisanoutcomeofthewhole。Whether,liketheorchestra,itgivesforthharmonymaybeamatterofdispute,butthatitssound,pleasingorotherwise,istheexpressionofavitalcooperation,cannotwellbedeniedCertainlyeverythingthatIsayorthinkisinfluencedbywhatothershavesaidorthought,and,inonewayoranother,sendsoutaninfluenceofitsowninturn。

  Thisdifferentiatedunityofmentalorsociallife,presentinthesimplestintercoursebutcapableofinfinitegrowthandadaptation,iswhatImeaninthisworkbysocialorganization。Itwouldbeuseless,Ithink,toattemptamoreelaboratedefinition。Wehaveonlytoopenoureyestoseeorganization;andifwecannotdothatnodefinitionwillhelpus。

  Inthesocialmindwemaydistinguish梫eryroughlyofcourse梒onsciousandunconsciousrelations,theunconsciousbeingthoseofwhichwearenotaware,whichforsomereasonescapeournotice。Agreatpartoftheinfluencesatworkuponusareofthischaracter:ourlanguage,ourmechanicalarts,ourgovernmentandotherinstitutions,wederivechieflyfrompeopletowhomwearebutindirectlyandunconsciouslyrelated。Thelargermovementsofsociety梩heprogressanddecadenceofnations,institutionsandraces梙aveseldombeena,5matterofconsciousnessuntiltheywerepast。Andalthoughthegrowthofsocialconsciousnessisperhapsthegreatestfactofhistory,ithasstillbutanarrowandfalliblegraspofhumanlife。

  Socialconsciousness,orawarenessofsociety,isinseparablefromself-consciousness,becausewecanhardlythinkofourselvesexceptingwithreferencetoasocialgroupofsomesort,orofthegroupexceptwithreferencetoourselves。Thetwothingsgotogether,andwhatwearereallyawareofisamoreorlesscomplexpersonalorsocialwhole,ofwhichnowtheparticular,nowthegeneral,aspectisemphasized。

  Ingeneral,then,mostofourreflectiveconsciousness,ofourwide-awakestateofmind,issocialconsciousness,becauseasenseofourrelationtootherpersons,orofotherpersonstooneanother,canhardlyfailtobeapartofit。Selfandsocietyaretwin-born,weknowoneasimmediatelyasweknowtheother,andthenotionofaseparateandindependentegoisanillusion。

  Thisview,whichseemstomequitesimpleandinaccordwithcommon-sense,isnottheonemostcommonlyheld,forpsychologistsandevensociologistsarestillmuchinfectedwiththeideathatself-consciousnessisinsomewayprimary,andantecedenttosocialconsciousness,whichmustbederivedbysomereconditeprocessofcombinationorelimination。Iventure,therefore,togivesomefurtherexpositionofit,basedinpartonfirsthandobservationofthegrowthofsocialideasinchildren。

  Descartesis,Isuppose,thebest-knownexponentofthetraditionalviewregardingtheprimacyofself-conscious-

  6-ness。Seekinganunquestionablebasisforphilosophy,hethoughtthathefounditintheproposition“Ithink,thereforeIam“cogito,ergosum。Thisseemedtohiminevitable,thoughallelsemightbeillusion。“Iobserved,“hesays,“that,whilstIthuswishedtothinkthatallwasfalse,itwasabsolutelynecessarythatI,whothusthought,shouldbesomewhat;andasIobservedthatthistruth,Ithink,henceIam,wassocertainandofsuchevidencethatnogroundofdoubt,howeverextravagant,couldbeallegedbythescepticscapableofshakingit,IconcludedthatImight,withoutscruple,acceptitasthefirstprincipleofthephilosophyofwhichIwasinsearch。”[1]

  Fromourpointofviewthisreasoningisunsatisfactoryintwoessentialrespects。Inthefirstplaceitseemstoimplythat“I“-consciousnessisapartofallconsciousness,when,infact,itbelongsonlytoaratheradvancedstageofdevelopment。Intheseconditisone-sidedor“individualistic“inassertingthepersonalor“I“aspecttotheexclusionofthesocialor“we“aspect,whichisequallyoriginalwithit。

  Introspectionisessentialtopsychologicalorsocialinsight,buttheintrospectionofDescarteswas,inthisinstance,alimited,almostabnormal,sortofintrospection梩hatofaself-absorbedphilosopherdoinghisbesttoisolatehimselffromotherpeopleandfromallsimpleandnaturalconditionsoflife。Themindintowhichhelookedwasinahighlytechnicalstate,notlikelytogivehimajustviewofhumanconsciousnessingeneral。

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  Introspectionisofalargersortinourday。Thereisaworldofthingsinthemindworthlookingat,andthemodernpsychologist,insteadoffixinghisattentionwhollyonanextremeformofspeculativeself-consciousness,putshismindthroughaninfinitevarietyofexperiences,intellectualandemotional,simpleandcomplex,normalandabnormal,sociableandprivate,recordingineachcasewhatheseesinit。Hedoesthisbysubjectingittosuggestionsorincitementsofvariouskinds,whichawakentheactivitieshedesirestostudy。

  Inparticularhedoesitlargelybywhatmaybecalledsympatheticintrospection,puttinghimselfintointimatecontactwithvarioussortsofpersonsandallowingthemtoawakeinhimselfalifesimilartotheirown,whichheafterwards,tothebestofhisability,recallsanddescribes。Inthiswayheismoreorlessabletounderstand梐lwaysbyintrospection梒hildren,idiots,criminals,richandpoor,conservativeandradical梐nyphaseofhumannaturenotwhollyalientohisown。

  ThisIconceivetobetheprincipalmethodofthesocialpsychologist。

  Onethingwhichthisbroaderintrospectionrevealsisthatthe“I“-consciousnessdoesnotexplicitlyappearuntilthechildis,say,abouttwoyearsold,andthatwhenitdoesappearitcomesininseparableconjunctionwiththeconsciousnessofotherpersonsandofthoserelationswhichmakeupasocialgroup。Itisinfactsimplyonephaseofabodyofpersonalthoughtwhichisself-consciousnessinoneaspectandsocialconsciousnessinanother。

  8

  Thementalexperienceofanew-bornchildisprobablyamerestreamofimpressions,whichmayberegardedasbeingindividual,inbeingdifferentiatedfromanyotherstream?orassocial,inbeinganundoubtedproductofinheritanceandsuggestionfromhumanlifeatlarge;

  butisnotawareeitherofitselforofsociety。

  Verysoon,however,themindbeginstodiscriminatepersonalimpressionsandtobecomebothnaivelyself-consciousandnaivelyconsciousofsociety;thatis,thechildisaware,inanunreflectiveway,ofagroupandofhisownspecialrelationtoit。Hedoesnotsay“I“nordoeshenamehismother,hissisterorhisnurse,buthehasimagesandfeelingsoutofwhichtheseideaswillgrow。Latercomesthemorereflectiveconsciousnesswhichnamesbothhimselfandotherpeople,andbringsafullerperceptionoftherelationswhichconstitutetheunityofthissmallworld。[2]

  Andsoontothemostelaboratephasesofself-consciousnessandsocialconsciousness,tothemetaphysicianponderingtheEgo,orthesociologistmeditatingontheSocialOrganism。Selfandsocietygotogether,asphases,9ofacommonwhole。IamawareofthesocialgroupsinwhichIliveasimmediatelyandauthenticallyasIamawareofmyself;

  andDescartesmighthavesaid“Wethink,“cogitamus,onasgoodgroundsashesaidcogito。

  But,itmaybesaid,thisveryconsciousnessthatyouareconsideringisafteralllocatedinaparticularperson,andsoareallsimilarconsciousnesses,sothatwhatwesee,ifwetakeanobjectiveviewofthematter,ismerelyanaggregateofindividuals,howeversocialthoseindividualsmaybe。Common-sense,mostpeoplethink,assuresusthattheseparatepersonistheprimaryfactoflife。

  Ifso,isitnotbecausecommon-sensehasbeentrainedbycustomtolookatoneaspectofthingsandnotanother?Common-sense,moderatelyinformed,assuresusthattheindividualhashisbeingonlyaspartofawhole。Whatdoesnotcomebyhereditycomesbycommunicationandintercourse;andthemorecloselywelookthemoreapparentitisthatseparatenessisanillusionoftheeyeandcommunitytheinnertruth。“

  Socialorganism,“usingtheterminnoabstrusesensebutmerelytomeanavitalunityinhumanlife,isafactasobvioustoenlightenedcommon-senseasindividuality。

  Idonotquestionthattheindividualisadifferentiatedcentreofpsychicallife,havingaworldofhisownintowhichnootherindividualcanfullyenter;livinginastreamofthoughtinwhichthereisnothingquitelikethatinanyotherstream,neitherhis“I,“norhis“you,“norhis“we,“norevenanymaterialobject;all,probably,astheyexistforhim,havesomethinguniqueaboutthem。Butthisuniquenessisnomoreapparentandverifiablethanthefact——notatallinconsistentwithit梩hatheis,10inthefullestsensememberofawhole,appearingsuchnotonlytoscientificobservationbutalsotohisownuntrainedconsciousness。

  Thereisthennomysteryaboutsocialconsciousness。Theviewthatthereissomethingreconditeaboutitandthatitmustbedugforwithmetaphysicsanddrawnforthfromthedepthsofspeculation,springsfromafailuretograspadequatelythesocialnatureofallhigherconsciousness。

  Whatweneedinthisconnectionisonlyabetterseeingandunderstandingofratherordinaryandfamiliarfacts。

  Wemayviewsocialconsciousnesseitherinaparticularmindorasacooperativeactivityofmanyminds。ThesocialideasthatIhavearecloselyconnectedwiththosethatotherpeoplehave,andactandreactuponthemtoformawhole。Thisgivesuspublicconsciousness,ortouscamorefamiliarterm,publicopinion,inthebroadsenseofagroupstateofmindwhichismoreorlessdistinctlyawareofitself。BythislastphraseImeansuchamutualunderstandingofoneanother’spointsofviewonthepartoftheindividualsorgroupsconcernedasnaturallyresultsfromdiscussion。Therearealldegreesofthisawarenessinthevariousindividuals。Generallyspeaking,itneverembracesthewholeinallitscomplexity,butalmostalwayssomeoftherelationsthatenterintothewhole。Themoreintimatethecommunicationofagroupthemorecomplete,themorethoroughlyknittogetherintoalivingwhole,isitspublicconsciousness。

  Inacongenialfamilylife,forexample,theremaybeapublicconsciousnesswhichbringsalltheimportant,11thoughtsandfeelingsofthemembersintosuchalivingandcooperativewhole。Inthemindofeachmember,also,thissamethingexistsasasocialconsciousnessembracingavividsenseofthepersonaltraitsandmodesofthoughtandfeelingoftheothermembers。And,finally,quiteinseparablefromallthis,iseachone’sconsciousnessofhimself,whichislargelyadirectreflectionoftheideasabouthimselfheattributestotheothers,andisdirectlyorindirectlyaltogetheraproductofsociallife。Thusallconsciousnesshangstogether,andthedistinctionsarechieflybasedonpointofview。

  Theunityofpublicopinion,likeallvitalunity,isonenotofagreementbutoforganization,ofinteractionandmutualinfluence。

  Itistruethatacertainunderlyinglikenessofnatureisnecessaryinorderthatmindsmayinfluenceoneanotherandsocooperateinformingavitalwhole,butidentity,eveninthesimplestprocess,isunnecessaryandprobablyimpossible。TheconsciousnessoftheAmericanHouseofRepresentatives,forexample,isbynomeanslimitedtothecommonviews,ifthereareany,sharedbyitsmembers,butembracesthewholeconsciousnessofeverymembersofarasthisdealswiththeactivityoftheHouse。Itwouldbeapoorconceptionofthewholewhichleftouttheopposition,orevenonedissentientindividual。Thatallmindsaredifferentisacondition,notanobstacle,totheunitythatconsistsinadifferentiatedandcooperativelife。

  Hereisanotherillustrationofwhatismeantbyindividualandcollectiveaspectsofsocialconsciousness。Someofuspossessagoodmanybooksrelatingtosocialquestionsoftheday。Eachofthesebooks,consideredby,12itself,istheexpressionofaparticularsocialconsciousness;theauthorhascleareduphisideasaswellashecanandprintedthem。Butalibraryofsuchbooksexpressessocialconsciousnessinalargersense;itspeaksfortheepoch。Andcertainlynoonewhoreadsthebookswilldoubtthattheyformawhole,whatevertheirdifferences。

  Theradicalandthereactionistareclearlypartofthesamegeneralsituation。

  Thereare,then,atleastthreeaspectsofconsciousnesswhichwemayusefullydistinguish:self-consciousness,orwhatIthinkofmyself;socialconsciousnessinitsindividualaspect,orwhatIthinkofotherpeople;andpublicconsciousness,oracollectiveviewoftheforegoingasorganizedinacommunicatinggroup。Andallthreearephasesofasinglewhole。

  Endnotes,DiscourseonMethod,partiv。6,Thereismuchinterestandsignificanceinthematterofchildren’sfirstlearningtheuseof“I“andotherself-words梛usthowtheylearnthemandwhattheymeanbythem。Somediscussionofthematter,basedonobservationoftwochildren,willbefoundinHumanNatureandtheSocialOrder;andmorerecentlyIhavepublishedapaperinthePsychologicalReviewNovember,1908calledAStudyoftheEarlyUseofSelf-WordsbyaChild。“I“seemstomeanprimarilytheassertionofwillinasocialmediumofwhichthechildisconsciousandofwhichhis“I“isaninseparablepart。Itisthusasocialideaand,asstatedinthetext,arisesbydifferentiationofavaguebodyofpersonalthoughtwhichisself-consciousnessinonephaseandsocialconsciousnessinanother。Ithasnonecessaryreferencetothebody。,CharlesHortonCooley:SocialOrganization:Chapter2:SocialandIndividual,AspectsofMindContinued,CHAPTERII

  SOCIALANDINDIVIDUALASPECTSOFMIND——CONTINUED,MORALASPECTOFTHEORGANICVIEW——ITIMPLIESTHATREFORM

  SHOULDBEBASEDONSYMPATHY——USESOFPRAISEANDBLAME——RESPOSIBILITY

  BROADENEDBUTNOTLOST——MORALVALUEOFALARGERVIEW——ORGANICMORALITY

  CALLSFORKNOWLEDGE——NATUREOFSOCIALORGANIZATION

  Sofarasthemoralaspectisconcerned,itshouldbetheresultofthisorganicviewofmindtomakethewholeteachingandpracticeofrighteousnessmorerationalandeffectualbybringingitclosertofact。Amoralviewwhichdoesnotseetheindividualinlivingunitywithsocialwholesisunrealandapttoleadtoimpracticalresults。

  Havenotthemoralphilosophiesofthepastmissedtheirmark,ingreatpart,bysettingbeforetheindividualabsolutestandardsofbehavior,withoutaffordinghimanexplanationforhisbackwardnessoraprogrammeforhisgradualadvance?Anddidnotthisspringfromnotdiscerningclearlythatthemorallifewasasocialorganism,inwhicheveryindividualorgroupofindividualshaditsownspecialpossibilitiesandlimitations~Ingeneralsuchsystems,paganandChristian,havesaid,“Allofusoughttobesoandso,butsinceveryfewofusare,thisisevidentlyabadworld。”Andtheyhavehadnolarge,well-organized,slow-but-sureplanformakingitbetter。Impracticablestandardshavethesameilleffectasunenforciblelaw;theyaccustomustoseparatetheoryfrompracticeandmakeachasmbetweentheindividualandthemoralideal。

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  Thepresentwayofthinkingtendstocloseupthischasmandbringbothpersonsandidealsintomoreintelligiblerelationstoreallife。Thesinsorvirtuesoftheindividual?itseems?areneverfortuitousordisconnected;theyhavealwaysahistoryandcollateralsupport,andareinfactmoreorlesspleasingphasesofastruggling,aspiringwhole。

  Theidealsarealsopartsofthewhole;statesofbeing,achievedmomentarilybythoseinfrontandtreasuredfortheanimationandsolaceofall。Andthemethodofrighteousnessistounderstandaswellasmaybetheworkingofthiswholeandofallitsparts,andtoformandpursuepracticableidealsbasedonthisunderstanding。Itisalwaystobetakenforgrantedthatthereisnorealbreakwithhistoryandenvironment。Eachindividualmayberequiredtoputforthasteadfastendeavortomakehimselfandhissurroundingsbetter,butnottoachieveastandardunconnectedwithhisactualstate。Andthesameprincipleappliestospecialgroupsofallsorts,includingnations,races,andreligions;theirprogressmustbealonganaturallineofimprovementsuggestedbywhattheyare。Wearethuscomingundertheswayofthatrelativespirit,ofwhich,saysWalterPater,“

  theethicalresultisadelicateandtenderjusticeinthecriticismofhumanlife。”[1]

  Accordingtothis,realreformmustbesympathetic;thatis,itmustbegin,notwithdenunciation梩houghthatmayhaveitsuses梑utwithanintimateappreciationofthingsastheyare,andshouldproceedinaspiritoppositetothatinwhichwehavecommonlyattackedsuchques,15-tionsasthesuppressionofintemperanceandtheconversionoftheheathen。

  Humannature,itappears,isverymuchthesameinthosewereckonsinnersasinourselves。Goodandevilarealwaysintimatelybounduptogether;nosortofmenarechieflygivenovertoconsciousbadness;

  andtoabusemenorgroupsinthelargeisunjustandgenerallyfutile。

  Asarulethepracticalmethodistostudycloselyandkindlytheactualsituation,withthepeopleinvolvedinit;thengraduallyandcarefullytoworkouttheevilfromthemixturebysubstitutinggoodforit。Nomatterhowmeanorhideousaman’slifeis,thefirstthingistounderstandhim;

  tomakeoutjusthowitisthatourcommonhumannaturehascometoworkoutinthisway。Thismethodcallsforpatience,insight,firmness,andconfidenceinmen,leavinglittleroomforthedenunciatoryegotismofacertainkindofreformers。Itismoreandmorecomingtobeusedindealingwithintemperance,crime,greed,andinfactallthosemattersinwhichwetrytomakeourselvesandourneighborsbetter。Inoticethatthemosteffectualleadersofphilanthropyhavealmostceasedfromdenunciation。

  Tacitlyassumingthatthereareexcusesforeverything,they“shunthenegativeside“andspendtheirenergyinbuildinguptheaffirmative。

  Thissortofmoralitydoesnot,however,dispensewithpraiseandblame,whicharebasedonthenecessityofupholdinghigheridealsbyexample,anddiscreditinglowerones。Allsuchdistinctionsgettheirmeaningfromtheirrelationtoanupward-strivinggenerallife,whereinconspicuousmenserveassymbolsthroughwhichthehigher,16structuremaybeeithersupportedorundermined。

  Wemusthaveheroes,andperhapsvillainsthoughitisbetternottothinkmuchaboutthelatter,eventhoughtheirperformances,whencloselyviewed,appeartobeanequallynaturalproductofhistoryandenvironment。Tnshortitmakesadifferencewhetherwejudgeamanwithreferencetohisspecialhistoryand“lights,“ortothelargerlifeoftheworld;anditisrighttoassignexemplarypraiseorblameonthelattergroundwhichwouldbeunwarrantedontheformer。Thereiscertainlyaspecialrightforeveryman;buttherightofmostmenispartial,importantchieflytothemselvesandtheirimmediatesphere;whiletherearesomewhoserightisrepresentative,likethatofJesus,fittoguidethemoralthoughtofmankind;andwecherishandreveretheselatterbecausetheycorroboratetheidealswewishtoholdbeforeus。

  Itmatterslittlefortheselargerpurposeswhetherthesinsorvirtuesofconspicuouspersonsareconsciousornot;ourconcerniswithwhattheystandforinthegeneralmind。Infactconsciouswickednessiscomparativelyunimportant,becauseitimpliesthattheindividualisdividedinhisownmind,andthereforeweak。Themosteffectiveill-doersbelieveinthemselvesandhaveaquietconscience。And,inthesameway,goodnessismosteffectualwhenittakesitselfasamatterofcourseandfeelsnoself-complacency。

  Blameandpunishment,then,areessentiallysymbolic,theirfunctionbeingtodefineandenforcethepublicwill,andinnowayimplythattheoffendersareofadifferentnaturefromtherestofus。

  Wefeelittobetruethatwithalittledifferenttrainingandsurroundingswemighthave,17committedalmostanycrimeforwhichmenaresenttoprison,andcanreadilyunderstandthatcriminalsshouldnotcommonlyfeelthattheyareworsethanothers。Thesameprincipleappliestothosemalefactors,moredangerouspcrhups,whokeepwithinthelaw,andyetarcterriblypunishedfromtimetotimebypublicopinion。

  Perhapsitwouldbewellifboththosewhosufferpunishmentandthosewhoinflictitweremoredistinctlyawareofitssymboliccharacterandfunction。Theformermightfindtheirsenseofjusticeappeasedbyperceivingthatthoughwhattheydidwasnaturalandperhapsnotconsciouslywrong,itmaystillneedtobediscreditedandatonedfor。Theculpritisnotseparatedfromsocietybyhispunishment,butrestoredtoit。Itishiswayofservice;andifhetakesitintherightspiritheisbetteroffthanthosewhodowrongbutarenotpunished。

  Therestofus,ontheotherhand,mightrealizethatthoseinthepilloryareourrepresentatives,whosuffer,inarealsense,forus。Thiswoulddisinclineustospendinacheapabuseofconspicuousoffendersthatmoralardorwhoseproperfunctionisthecorrectionofourownlife。Thespectacleofpunishmentisnotforustogloatover,buttoremindusofoursins,which,asspringingfromthesamenatureandsociety,aresuretobemuchthesameasthatoftheonepunished。Itispreciselybecauseheislikeusthatheispunished。Ifhewereradicallydifferenthewouldbelonginaninsaneasylum,andpunishmentwouldbemerecruelty。

  Underthelargerviewofmindresponsibilityisbroadened,becausewerecognizeabroaderreachofcausation,but,18bynomeanslostinanabstract“society。”Itgoeswithpowerandincreasesrapidlyinproportionastheevilcomesnearerthesphereoftheindividual’svoluntaryaction,sothateachofusispeculiarlyresponsibleforthemoralstateofhisowntrade,family,orsocialconnection。Contrarytoaprevalentimpression,itisinthesefamiliarrelationsthattheindividualisleastofalljustifiedinbeingnobetterthanhisenvironment。

  Everyactofthewill,especiallywherethewillismostathome,shouldbeaffirmativeandconstructive;itbeingthefunctionandmeaningofindividualitythateachoneshouldbe,inthedirectionofhischiefactivities,somethingotherandbetterthanhissurroundings。

  Onceadmittheplea“Imaydowhatotherpeopledo,“andthebasisofrighteousnessisgone;perhapsthereisnomoralfallacysowidespreadandsoperniciousasthis。Itistheseno-worse-than-other-peopledecisionsthatparalyzethemorallifeintheoneandinthewhole,involvingasortofmoralpanmixia,asthebiologistssay,which,lackinganyprogressiveimpulse,mustresultindeterioration。Intheenditwilljustifyanything,sincetherearealwaysbadexamplestofallbackupon。

  Itiscommonlyfutile,however,torequireanysharpbreakwiththepast;wemustbecontentwithanupwardendeavorandtendency。

  Itisquitetruethatweareallinvolvedinanetofquestionablepracticesfromwhichwecanonlyescapealittleatatimeandincooperationwithourassociates。

  Itisanerrortoimaginethatthedoctrineofindividualresponsibilityisalwaystheexpedientandedifyingone,19inmattersofconduct。Thereisasortofpeoplewhogrowindignantwhenevergeneralcausesareinsistedupon,apparentlyconvincedthatwhetherthesearerealornotitisimmoraltobelieveinthem。Butitisnotinvariablyagoodthingtourgethewill,sincethis,ifoverstimulated,becomesfagged,stale,anddiscouraged。

  Oftenitisbetterthatoneshouldlethimselfgo,andtrusthimselftotheinvoluntaryforces,tothenatureofthings,toGod。Thenervousorstrainedpersononlyharassesandweakenshiswillbyfixingattentionuponit:itwillworkonmoreeffectuallyifhelooksawayfromit,calminghimselfbyaviewofthelargerwhole;andnotwithoutreasonSpinozacountsamongtheadvantagesofdeterminism“theattainmentofhappinessbymanthroughrealizinghisintimateunionwiththewholenatureofthings;thedistinctionbetweenthingsinourpowerandthingsnotinourpower;theavoidanceofalldisturbingpassions,andtheperformanceofsocialdutiesfromrationaldesireforthecommongood。”[2]

  Anobviousmoraldefectoftheunbalanceddoctrineofresponsibilityisthatitpermitsthesuccessfultodespisetheunfortunate,inthebeliefthatthelatter“haveonlythemselvestoblame,“abeliefnotcountenancedbythelargerviewoffact。Wemaypardonthisdoctrinewhenitmakesonetoohardonhimselforonsuccessfulwrongdoers,butasarodwithwhichtobeatthosealreadydownitisdespicable。

  Theannalsofreligionshowthatthemorallifehasalwaysthesetwoaspects,theparticularandthegeneral,asinthedoctrinesoffreedomandpredestination,orin,20thewrestlingswithsinfollowedbyself-abandonmentthatwefindintheliteratureofconversion。[3]Perhapswemaysaythatthedeterministicattitudeismorallygoodinatleasttwoclassesofcases:First,fornervous,conscientiousindividuals,likeSpinoza,whosewillsneedrathercalmingthanstimulating,alsoforanyonewhomaybeeventemporarilyinastateofmentalstrain;second,indealingonalargescalewithsocialormoralquestionswhosecausesmustbetreateddispassionatelyandinamass。

  Thesequestionsoffree-willversuslaw,andthelike,arebutlittle,ifatall,questionsoffact梬henwegetdowntodefinitefactsbearinguponthematterwefindlittleornodisagreement梑utofpointofviewandemphasis。Ifyoufixattentionontheindividualphaseofthingsandseelifeasatheatreofpersonalaction,thenthecorrespondingideasofprivatewill,responsibility,praise,andblamerisebeforeyou;ifyouregarditstotalaspectyouseetendency,evolution,lawandimpersonalgrandeur。Eachoftheseisahalftruthneedingtobecompletedbytheother;thelargertruth,includingboth,beingthatlifeisanorganicwhole,presentingitselfwithequalrealityinindividualandgeneralaspects。Argumentuponsuchquestionsiswithoutlimit梥incethereisreallynothing,21atissue梐ndinthatsensetheproblemoffreedomversuslawisinsoluble。

  Aboveall,theorganicviewofmindcallsforsocialknowledgeasthebasisofmorality。Weliveinasystemandtoachieverightends,oranyrationalendswhatever,wemustlearntounderstandthatsystem。Thepublicmindmustemergesomewhatfromitssubconsciousconditionandknowandguideitsownprocesses。

  Bothconsciouslyandunconsciouslythelargermindiscontinuallybuildingitselfupintowholes梖ashions,traditions,institutions,tendencies,andthelike梬hichspreadanddiversifylikethebranchesofatree,andsogenerateaneverhigherandmorevariousstructureofdifferentiatedthoughtandsymbols。Theimmediatemotorandguideofthisgrowthisinterest,andwhereverthatpointssocialstructurecomesintobeing,asapicturegrowswheretheartistmoveshispencil。

  Visiblesocietyis,indeed,literally,aworkofart,slowandmostlysubconsciousinitsproduction梐sgreatartoftenis梖ullofgrotesqueandwaywardtraits,butyetofinexhaustiblebeautyandfascination。Itisthiswefindinthehistoryofoldcivilizations,gettingfromitthecompletedworkoftheartistwithoutthatstrainandconfusionofproductionwhichdefacesthepresent。Wegetit,especially,notfromthehistoryofthetheoristorthestatistician,butfromtheactual,naive,humanrecordtobefoundinmemoirs,inpopularliterature,inarchitecture,painting,sculpture,andmusic,intheindustrialarts,ineveryunforcedproductofthemind。

  Socialorganizationisnothinglessthanthisvariega-

  22-tionoflife,takeninthewidestsensepossible。Itshouldnotbeconceivedastheproductmerelyofdefiniteandutilitarianpurpose,butasthetotalexpressionofconsciousandsubconscioustendency,theslowcrystallizationinmanyformsandcolorsofthelifeofthehumanspirit。

  Anyfairlydistinctanddurabledetailofthisstructuremaybecalledasocialtype;thisbeingaconvenienttermtousewhenwewishtobreakupthewholeintoparts,foranalysisordescription。Thustherearetypesofpersonality,ofpoliticalstructure,ofreligion,ofclasses。ofthefamily,ofart,oflanguage;alsoofprocesses,likecommunication,cooperation,andcompetition;andsoon。Thewholeissovariousthatfromeverynewpointofviewnewformsarerevealed。

  Socialtypesareanalogoustothegenera,species,andvarietiesoftheanimalworld,inbeingpartsofonelivingwholeandyethavingarelativecontinuityanddistinctnesswhichissusceptibleofdetailedstudy。Likebiologicaltypes,also,theyexistinrelatedsystemsandorders,aresubjecttovariation,competewithoneanother,flourishanddecay,maybeflexibleorrigid,andmayormaynotformprolificcrosseswithoneanother。

  Withoutforgettingtoseelifeasindividuals,wemustlearntoseeitalsoastypes,processes,organizationthelatterbeingjustasrealastheformer。Andespecially,inordertoseethemattertruly,shouldwebeabletointerpretindividualsbywholes,andviceversa。

  Endnotes,SeehisessayonColeridge。Pollock’sSpinoza,2ded。195。Amplyexpounded,withduestressonthemoralvalueoflettinggo,byWilliamJames,inhisVarietiesofReligiousExperienee:“Thisabandonmentofself-responsibilityseemstobethefundamentalactinspecificallyreligious,asdistinguishedfrommoralpractice。Itantedatestheologiesandisindependentofphilosophies……itiscapableofenteringintoclosestmarriagewitheveryspeculativecreed。”Page289。,CharlesHortonCooley:SocialOrganization:Chapter3:PrimaryGroups,CHAPTERIII,PRIMARYGROUPS

  MEANINGOFPRIMARYGROUPS——FAMILY,PLAYGROUND,ANDNEIGHBORHOOD——

  HOWFARINFLUENCEDBYLARGERSOCIETY——MEANINGANDPERMANENCEOF“HUMAN

  NATURE“——PRIMARYGROUPSTHENURSERYOFHUMANNATURE。

  BYprimarygroupsImeanthosecharacterizedbyintimateface-to-faceassociationandcooperation。Theyareprimaryinseveralsenses,butchieflyinthattheyarefundamentalinformingthesocialnatureandidealsoftheindividual。Theresultofintimateassociation,psychologically,isacertainfusionofindividualitiesinacommonwhole,sothatone’sveryself,formanypurposesatleast,isthecommonlifeandpurposeofthegroup。Perhapsthesimplestwayofdescribingthiswholenessisbysayingthatitisa“we“;itinvolvesthesortofsympathyandmutualidentificationforwhich“we“isthenaturalexpression。Onelivesinthefeelingofthewholeandfindsthechiefaimsofhiswillinthatfeeling。

  Itisnottobesupposedthattheunityoftheprimarygroupisoneofmereharmonyandlove。Itisalwaysadifferentiatedandusuallyacompetitiveunity,admittingofself-assertionandvariousappropriativepassions;butthesepassionsaresocializedbysympathy,andcome,ortendtocome,underthedisciplineofacommonspirit。Theindividualwillbeambitious,butthechiefobjectof,24

  hisambitionwillbesomedesiredplaceinthethoughtoftheothers,andhewillfeelallegiancetocommonstandardsofserviceandfairplay。Sotheboywilldisputewithhisfellowsaplaceontheteam?butabovesuchdisputeswillplacethecommongloryofhisclassandschool。

  Themostimportantspheresofthisintimateassociationandcooperation梩houghbynomeanstheonlyones梐rethefamily,theplay-groupofchildren,andtheneighborhoodorcommunitygroupofelders。Thesearepracticallyuniversal,belongingtoalltimesandallstagesofdevelopment;

  andareaccordinglyachiefbasisofwhatisuniversalinhumannatureandhumanideals。Thebestcomparativestudiesofthefamily,suchasthoseofWestermarck[1]orHoward,[2]showittousasnotonlyauniversalinstitution,butasmorealiketheworldoverthantheexaggerationofexceptionalcustomsbyanearlierschoolhadledustosuppose。Norcananyonedoubtthegeneralprevalenceofplay-groupsamongchildrenorofinformalassembliesofvariouskindsamongtheirelders。Suchassociationisclearlythenurseryofhumannatureintheworldaboutus,andthereisnoapparentreasontosupposethatthecasehasanywhereoratanytimebeenessentiallydifferent。

  Asregardsplay,Imight,wereitnotamatterofcommonobservation,multiplyillustrationsoftheuniversalityandspontaneityofthegroupdiscussionandcooperationtowhichitgivesrise。Thegeneralfactisthatchildren,especiallyboysafterabouttheirtwelfthyear,liveinfellow-

  25-shipsinwhichtheirsympathy,ambitionandhonorareengagedevenmore,often,thantheyareinthefamily。Mostofuscanrecallexamplesoftheendurancebyboysofinjusticeandevencruelty?

  ratherthanappealfromtheirfellowstoparentsorteachers——as,forinstance,inthehazingsoprevalentatschools,andsodifficult,forthisveryreason,torepress。Andhowelaboratethediscussion,howcogentthepublicopinion,howhottheambitionsinthesefellowships。

  Noristhisfacilityofjuvenileassociation,asissometimessupposed,atraitpeculiartoEnglishandAmericanboys;sinceexperienceamongourimmigrantpopulationseemstoshowthattheoffspringofthemorerestrictivecivilizationsofthecontinentofEuropeformself-governingplay-groupswithalmostequalreadiness。ThusMissJaneAddams,afterpointingoutthatthe“gang“isalmostuniversal,speaksoftheinterminablediscussionwhicheverydetailofthegang’sactivityreceives,remarkingthat“inthesesocialfolk-motes,sotospeak,theyoungcitizenlearnstoactuponhisowndetermination。”[3]

  Oftheneighborhoodgroupitmaybesaid,ingeneral,thatfromthetimemenformedpermanentsettlementsupontheland,down,atleast,totheriseofmodernindustrialcities,ithasplayedamainpartintheprimary,heart-to-heartlifeofthepeople。AmongourTeutonicforefathersthevillagecommunitywasapparentlythechiefsphereofsympathyandmutualaidforthecommonsallthroughthe“dark“andmiddleages,andformanypurposesitremainssoinruraldistrictsatthepresentday。

  Insomecountrieswestillfinditwithallitsancientvi-

  26tality,notablyinRussia,wherethemir,orself-governingvillagegroup,isthemaintheatreoflife,alongwiththefamily,forperhapsfiftymillionsofpeasants。

  Inourownlifetheintimacyoftheneighborhoodhasbeenbrokenupbythegrowthofanintricatemeshofwidercontactswhichleavesusstrangerstopeoplewholiveinthesamehouse。Andeveninthecountrythesameprincipleisatwork,thoughlessobviously,diminishingoureconomicandspiritualcommunitywithourneighbors。Howfarthischangeisahealthydevelopment,andhowfaradisease,isperhapsstilluncertain。

  Besidesthesealmostuniversalkindsofprimaryassociation,therearemanyotherswhoseformdependsupontheparticularstateofcivilization;

  theonlyessentialthing,asIhavesaid,beingacertainintimacyandfusionofpersonalities。Inourownsociety,beinglittleboundbyplace,peopleeasilyformclubs,fraternalsocietiesandthelike,basedoncongeniality,whichmaygiverisetorealintimacy。Manysuchrelationsareformedatschoolandcollege,andamongmenandwomenbroughttogetherinthefirstinstancebytheiroccupations梐sworkmeninthesametrade,orthelike。

  Wherethereisalittlecommoninterestandactivity,kindnessgrowslikeweedsbytheroadside。

  Butthefactthatthefamilyandneighborhoodgroupsareascendantintheopenandplastictimeofchildhoodmakesthemevennowincomparablymoreinfluentialthanalltherest。

  Primarygroupsareprimaryinthesensethattheygivetheindividualhisearliestandcompletestexperience,27ofsocialunity,andalsointhesensethattheydonotchangeinthesamedegreeasmoreelaboraterelations,butformacomparativelypermanentsourceoutofwhichthelatterareeverspringing。

  Ofcoursetheyarenotindependentofthelargersociety,buttosomeextentreflectitsspirit;astheGermanfamilyandtheGermanschoolbearsomewhatdistinctlytheprintofGermanmilitarism。Butthis,afterall,islikethetidesettingbackintocreeks,anddoesnotcommonlygoveryfar。AmongtheGerman,andstillmoreamongtheRussian,peasantryarefoundhabitsoffreecooperationanddiscussionalmostuninfluencedbythecharacterofthestate;anditisafamiliarandwell-supportedviewthatthevillagecommune,self-governingasregardslocalaffairsandhabituatedtodiscussion,isaverywidespreadinstitutioninsettledcommunities,andthecontinuatorofasimilarautonomypreviouslyexistingintheclan。“Itismanwhomakesmonarchiesandestablishesrepublics,butthecommuneseemstocomedirectlyfromthehandofGod。”[4]

  Inourowncitiesthecrowdedtenementsandthegeneraleconomicandsocialconfusionhavesorelywoundedthefamilyandtheneighborhood,butitisremarkable,inviewoftheseconditions,whatvitalitytheyshow;

  andthereisnothinguponwhichtheconscienceofthetimeismoredeterminedthanuponrestoringthemtohealth。

  Thesegroups,then,arespringsoflife,notonlyfortheindividualbutforsocialinstitutions。Theyareonlyinpartmouldedbyspecialtraditions,and,inlargerdegree,expressauniversalnature。

  Thereligionorgovernmentofothercivilizationsmayseemalientous,butthechil-

  28-drenorthefamilygroupwearthecommonlife,andwiththemwecanalwaysmakeourselvesathome。

  Byhurnannature,Isuppose,wemayunderstandthosesentimentsandimpulsesthatarehumaninbeingsuperiortothoseofloweranimals,andalsointhesensethattheybelongtomankindatlarge,andnottoanyparticularraceortime。Itmeans,particularly,sympathyandtheinnumerablesentimentsintowhichsympathyenters,suchaslove,resentment,ambition,vanity,hero-worship,andthefeelingofsocialrightandwrong。[5]

  Humannatureinthissenseisjustlyregardedasacomparativelypermanentelementinsociety。Alwaysandeverywheremenseekhonoranddreadridicule,defertopublicopinion,cherishtheirgoodsandtheirchildren,andadmirecourage,generosity,andsuccess。Itisalwayssafetoassumethatpeopleareandhavebeenhuman。

  Itistrue,nodoubt,thattherearedifferencesofracecapacity,sogreatthatalargepartofmankindarepossiblyincapableofanyhighkindofsocialorganization。Butthesedifferences,likethoseamongindividualsofthesamerace,aresubtle,dependinguponsomeobscureintellectualdeficiency,somewantofvigor,orslacknessofmoralfibre,anddonotinvolveunlikenessinthegenericimpulsesofhumannature。

  Intheseallracesareverymuchalike。Themoreinsightonegetsintothelifeofsavages,eventhosethatarereckonedthelowest,themorehuman,themorelikeourselves,theyappear。TakeforinstancethenativesofCentralAustralia,asdescribed,29bySpencerandGillen,[6]tribeshavingnodefinitegovernmentorworshipandscarcelyabletocounttofive。Theyaregeneroustooneanother,emulousofvirtueastheyunderstandit,kindtotheirchildrenandtotheaged,andbynomeansharshtowomen。Theirfacesasshowninthephotographsarewhollyhumanandmanyofthemattractive。

  Andwhenwecometoacomparisonbetweendifferentstagesinthedevelopmentofthesamerace,betweenourselves,forinstance,andtheTeutonictribesofthetimeofCaesar,thedifferenceisneitherinhumannaturenorincapacity,butinorganization,intherangeandcomplexityofrelations,inthediverseexpressionofpowersandpassionsessentiallymuchthesame。

  Thereisnobetterproofofthisgenericlikenessofhumannaturethanintheeaseandjoywithwhichthemodernmanmakeshimselfathomeinliteraturedepictingthemostremoteandvariedphasesoflife梚nHomer,intheNibelungtales,intheHebrewScriptures,inthelegendsoftheAmericanIndians,instoriesoffrontierlife,ofsoldiersandsailors,ofcriminalsandtramps,andsoon。Themorepenetratinglyanyphaseofhumanlifeisstudiedthemoreanessentiallikenesstoourselvesisrevealed。

  Toreturntoprimarygroups:theviewheremaintainedisthathumannatureisnotsomethingexistingseparatelyintheindividual,butagroup-natureorprimaryphaseofsociety,arelativelysimpleandgeneralcondition,30ofthesocialmind。Itissomethingmore,ontheonehand,thanthemereinstinctthatisborninus梩houghthatentersintoit梐ndsomethingless,ontheother,thanthemoreelaboratedevelopmentofideasandsentimentsthatmakesupinstitutions。ltisthenaturewhichisdevelopedandexpressedinthosesimple,face-to-facegroupsthataresomewhatalikeinallsocieties;groupsofthefamily,theplayground,andtheneighborhood。Intheessentialsimilarityoftheseistobefoundthebasis,inexperience,forsimilarideasandsentimentsinthehumanmind。Inthese,everywhere,humannaturecomesintoexistence。Mandoesnothaveitatbirth;hecannotacquireitexceptthroughfellowship,anditdecaysinisolation。

  IfthisviewdoesnotrecommenditselftocommonsenseIdonotknowthatelaborationwillbeofmuchavail。Itsimplymeanstheapplicationatthispointoftheideathatsocietyandindividualsareinseparablephasesofacommonwhole,sothatwhereverwefindanindividualfactwemaylookforasocialfacttogowithit。Ifthereisauniversalnatureinpersonstheremustbesomethinguniversalinassociationtocorrespondtoit。

  Whatelsecanhumannaturebethanatraitofprimarygroups?Surelynotanattributeoftheseparateindividual梥upposingtherewereanysuchthing梥inceitstypicalcharacteristics,suchasaffection,ambition,vanity,andresentment,areinconceivableapartfromsociety。

  Ifitbelongs,then,tomaninassociation,whatkindordegreeofassociationisrequiredtodevelopit?Evidentlynothingelaborate,becauseelaboratephasesofsocietyaretransientanddiverse,whilehumannatureiscompara-

  31-tivelystableanduniversal。Inshortthefamilyandneighborhoodlifeisessentialtoitsgenesisandnothingmoreis。

  Hereaseverywhereinthestudyofsocietywemustlearntoseemankindinpsychicalwholes,ratherthaninartificialseparation。

  Wemustseeandfeelthecommunallifeoffamilyandlocalgroupsasimmediatefacts,notascombinationsofsomethingelse。Andperhapsweshalldothisbestbyrecallingourownexperienceandextendingitthroughsympatheticobservation。What,inourlife,isthefamilyandthefellowship;whatdoweknowofthewe-feeling?Thoughtofthiskindmayhelpustogetaconcreteperceptionofthatprimarygroup-natureofwhicheverythingsocialistheoutgrowth。

  Endnotes,TheHistoryofHumanMarriage。AHistoryofMatrimonialInstitutions。NewerIdealsofPeace,177。DeTocqueville,DemocracyinAmerica,vol。i,chap。5。Thesemattersareexpoundedatsomelengthinthewriter’sHumanNatureandtheSocialOrder。TheNativeTribesofCentralAustralia。ComparealsoDarwin’sviewsandexamplesgiveninchap。7ofhisDescentofMan。,CharlesHortonCooley:SocialOrganization:Chapter4:PrimaryIdeals,CHAPTERIV

  PRIMARYIDEALS,NATUREOFPRIMARYIDEALISM——THEIDEALOFA“WE“ORMORAL

  UNITY——ITDOESNOTEXCLUDESELF-ASSERTION——IDEALSSPRINGINGFROMHOSTILITY——

  LOYALTY,TRUTH,SERVICE——KINDNESS——LAWFULNESS——FREEDOM——THE

  DOCTRINEOFNATURALRIGHT——BEARINGOFPRIMARYIDEALISMUPONEDUCATION

  ANDPHILANTHROPY

  LIFEintheprimarygroupsgivesrisetosocialidealswhich,astheyspringfromsimilarexperiences,havemuchincommonthroughoutthehumanrace。Andthesenaturallybecomethemotiveandtestofsocialprogress。

  Underallsystemsmenstrive,howeverblindly,torealizeobjectssuggestedbythefamiliarexperienceofprimaryassociationWheredowegetournotionsoflove,freedom,justice,andthelikewhichweareeverapplyingtosocialinstitutions?Notfromabstractphilosophy,surely,butfromtheactuallifeofsimpleandwidespreadformsofsociety,likethefamilyortheplay-group。Intheserelationsmankindrealizesitself,gratifiesitsprimaryneeds,inafairlysatisfactorymanner,andfromtheexperienceformsstandardsofwhatitistoexpectfrommoreelaborateassociation。Sincegroupsofthissortareneverobliteratedfromhumanexperience,butflourishmoreorlessunderallkindsofinstitutions,theyremainanenduringcriterionbywhichthelatterareultimatelyjudged。

  Ofcoursethesesimplerrelationsarenotuniformfor,33allsocieties,butvaryconsiderablywithrace,withthegeneralstateofcivilization,andwiththeparticularsortofinstitutionsthatmayprevail。Theprimarygroupsthemselvesaresubjecttoimprovementanddecay,andneedtobewatchedandcherishedwithaveryspecialcare。

  Neitherisitclaimedthat,atthebest,theyrealizeidealconditions;

  onlythattheyapproachthemmorenearlythananythingelseingeneralexperience,andsoformthepracticalbasisonwhichhigherimaginationsarebuilt。Theyarenotalwayspleasantorrighteous,buttheyalmostalwayscontainelementsfromwhichidealsofpleasantnessandrighteousnessmaybeformed。

  Theidealthatgrowsupinfamiliarassociationmaybesaidtobeapartofhumannatureitself。Initsmostgeneralformitisthatofamoralwholeorcommunitywhereinindividualmindsaremergedandthehighercapacitiesofthemembersfindtotalandadequateexpression。Anditgrowsupbecausefamiliarassociationfillsourmindswithimaginationsofthethoughtandfeelingofothermembersofthegroup,andofthegroupasawhole,sothat,formanypurposes,wereallymakethemapartofourselvesandidentifyourself-feelingwiththem。

  Childrenandsavagesdonotformulateanysuchideal,buttheyhaveitnevertheless;theyseeit;theyseethemselvesandtheirfellowsasanindivisible,thoughvarious,“we,“andtheydesirethis“we“tobeharmonious,happy,andsuccessful。Howheartilyonemaymergehimselfinthefamilyandinthefellowshipsofyouthisperhapswithintheexperienceofallofus;andwecometofeelthatthesamespiritshouldextendtoourcountry,34ourrace,ourworld。“Alltheabuseswhicharetheobjectsofreform……areunconsciouslyamendedintheintercourseoffriends。”[1],Acongenialfamilylifeistheimmemorialtypeofmoralunity,andsourceofmanyoftheterms——suchasbrotherhood,kindness,andthelike梬hichdescribeit。Themembersbecomemergedbyintimateassociationintoawholewhereineachageandsexparticipatesinitsownway。Eachlivesinimaginativecontactwiththemindsoftheothers,andfindsinthemthedwelling-placeofhissocialself,ofhisaffections,ambitions,resentments,andstandardsofrightandwrong。Withoutuniformity,thereisyetunity,afree,pleasant,wholesome,fruitful,commonlife。

  Astotheplayground,Mr。JosephLee,inanexcellentpaperonPlayasaSchooloftheCitizen,givesthefollowingaccountofthemergingoftheoneinthewholethatmaybelearnedfromsport。Theboy,hesays,“isdeeplyparticipatinginacommonpurpose。TheteamandtheplaysthatitexecutesarepresentinaveryvividmannertohisconsciousnessHisconsciousindividualityismorethoroughlylostinthesenseofmembershipthanperhapsiteverbecomesinanyotherway。Sothatthesheerexperienceofcitizenshipinitssimplestandessentialform梠fthesharinginapublicconsciousness,ofhavingthesocialorganizationpresentasacontrollingidealinyourheart梚sveryintense……

  Alongwiththesenseoftheteamasamechanicalinstrument,andunseparatedfromitintheboy’smind,istheconsciousnessofitastheembodimentofacommonpurpose。Thereisinteamplayaveryintimateexperienceofthewaysinwhichsuchapurposeisbuiltupandmadeeffective。Youfeel,thoughwithoutanalysis,thesubtlewaysinwhichasinglestrongcharacterbreaksouttheroadahead,35andgivesconfidencetotheresttofollow;howthecreativepowerofoneardentimagination,bravelysustained,makespossibletheputtingthroughoftheplayasheconceivesit。YoufeeltothemarrowOfyourboneshoweachloyalmembercontributestothesalvationofalltheothersbyholdingtheconceptionofthewholeplaysofirmlyinhismind11。9

  toenablethemtoholdit,andtoparticipateinhissingle-mindeddeterminationtoseeitcarriedout。Youhaveintimateexperienceofthewaysinwhichindividualmemberscontributetotheteamandofhowtheteam,inturn,buildsuptheirspiritualnature……

  Andtheteamisnotonlyanextensionoftheplayer’sconsciousness;

  itisapartofhispersonality。Hisparticipationhasdeepenedfromcooperationtomembership。Notonlyishenowapartoftheteam,buttheteamisapartofhim。”[2]

  Moralunity,asthisillustrationimplies,admitsandrewardsstrenuousambition;butthisambitionmusteitherbeforthesuccessofthegroup,oratleastnotinconsistentwiththat。Thefullestself-realizationwillbelongtotheonewhoembracesinapassionateself-feelingtheaimsofthefellowship,andspendshislifeinfightingfortheirattainment。

  TheidealofmoralunityItaketobethemother,asitwere,ofallsocialideals。

  Itis,then,notmyaimtodepreciatetheself-assertivepassions。I

  believethattheyarefierce,inextinguishable,indispensable。Competitionandthesurvivalofthefittestareasrighteousaskindnessandcooperation,andnotnecessarilyopposedtothem:anadequateviewwillembraceandharmonizethesediverseaspects。ThepointIwishparticularlytobringoutinthischapteristhatthenormalselfismouldedinprimarygroupstobeasocial,36selfwhoseambitionsareformedbythecommonthoughtofthegroup。

  Intheircrudestformsuchpassionsaslust,greed,revenge,theprideofpowerandthelikearenot,distinctively,humannatureatall,butanimalnature,and90farasweriseintothespiritoffamilyorneighborhoodassociationwecontrolandsubordinatethem。Theyarerenderedhumanonlysofarastheyarebroughtunderthedisciplineofsympathy,andrefinedintosentiments,suchaslove,resentment,andambition。Andinsofarastheyarethushumanizedtheybecomecapableofusefulfunction。

  Takethegreedofgain,forexample,theancientsinofavarice,theoldwolf,asDantesays,thatgetsmorepreythanalltheotherbeasts。[3]Thedesireofpossessionisinitselfagoodthing,aphaseofself-realizationandacauseofsocialimprovement。Itisimmoralorgreedyonlywhenitiswithoutadequatecontrolfromsympathy,whentheselfrealizedisanarrowself。Inthatcaseitisaviceofisolationorweaksocialconsciousness,andindicatesastateofmindintermediatebetweenthebrutalandthefullyhumanormoral,whendesireisdirectedtowardsocialobjects梬ealthorpower梑utisnotsocialinitsattitudetowardotherswhodesirethesameobjects。Intimateassociationhasthepowertoallaygreed。Onewillhardlybegreedyasagainsthisfamilyorclosefriends,thoughverydecentpeoplewillbesoasagainstalmostanyoneelse。Everyonemusthavenoticedthatafter,37frankassociation,evenofatransientcharacter,withanotherperson,oneusuallyhasasenseofkindredwithhimwhichmakesoneashamedtoactgreedilyathis,expense。

  Thosewhodwellpreponderantlyupontheselfishaspectofhumannatureandfloutassentimentalismthe“altruistic“conceptionofit,maketheirchieferrorinfailingtoseethatourselfitselfisaltruistic,thattheobjectofourhighergreedissomedesiredplaceinthemindsofothermen,andthatthroughthisitispossibletoenlistordinaryhumannatureintheserviceofidealaims。Theimprovementofsocietydoesnotcallforanyessentialchangeinhumannature,but,chiefly,foralargerandhigherapplicationofitsfamiliarimpulses。

  Iknow,also,thatthemosttruculentbehaviormaybeexaltedintoanideal,liketheferocityofSamuel,whenhehewedAgagtopiecesbeforetheLord,[4]oroftheorthodoxChristianofaformerageinthedestructionofheretics。Ingeneralthereisalwaysamoralityofopposition,springingfromtheneedofthesympatheticgrouptoassertitselfinthestruggleforexistence。Evenatthepresentdaythismoreorlessidealizesdestructivenessanddeceitintheconflictsofwar,ifnotofcommerce。

  Butsuchpreceptsaresecondary,notidealsinthesameprimaryandenduringsensethatloyaltyandkindnessare。Theyshinebyreflectedlight,andgettheirforcemainlyfromthebeliefthattheyexpresstherequirementsofthe“we“groupincombatingitsenemies。Flourishingatcertainstagesofdevelopmentbecausetheyarerequisite,38undertheprevailingconditionsofdestructiveconflict,theyareslowlyabandonedortransformedwhentheseconditionschange。Mankindatlargehasnoloveofthemfortheirownsake,thoughindividuals,classes,orevennationsmayacquirethemasahabit。Withtheadvanceofcivilizationconflictitselfisbroughtmoreandmoreunderthecontrolofthoseprinciplesthatprevailinprimarygroups,and,sofarasthisisthecase,conductwhichviolatessuchprinciplesceasestohaveanyidealvalue。

  Tobreakuptheidealofamoralwholeintoparticularidealsisanartificialprocesswhicheverythinkerwouldprobablycarryoutinhisownway。Perhaps,however,themostsalientprinciplesareloyalty,lawfulness,andfreedom。

  Insofarasoneidentifieshimselfwithawhole,loyaltytothatwholeisloyaltytohimself;itisself-realization,somethinginwhichonecannotfailwithoutlosingself-respect。Moreoverthisisalargerself,leadingoutintoawiderandricherlife,andappealing,therefore,toenthusiasmandtheneedofquickeningideals。Oneisnevermorehuman,andasaruleneverhappier,thanwhenheissacrificinghisnarrowandmerelyprivateinteresttothehighercallofthecongenialgroup。Andwithoutdoubtthenaturalgenesisofthissentimentisintheintimacyofface-to-facecooperation。

  Itisrathertherulethantheexceptioninthefamily,andgrowsupamongchildrenandyouthsofastastheylearntothinkandacttocommonends。

  Theteamfeelingdescribedaboveillustratesitaswellasanything。

  Amongtheidealsinseparablefromloyaltyarethoseof,39truth,service,andkindness,alwaysconceivedasduetotheintimategroupratherthantotheworldatlarge。

  Truthorgoodfaithtowardothermembersofafellow:;hipis,sofarasIknow’auniversalhumanideal。Itdoesnotinvolveanyabstractloveofveracity,andisquiteconsistentwithdeceptiontowardtheoutsideworld,beingessentially“truthofintercourse“orfairdealingamongintimates。

  Therearefew,evenamongthosereckonedlawless,whowillnotkeepfaithwithonewhohasthegiftofgettingneartotheminspiritandmakingthemfeelthatheisoneofthemselves。ThusJudgeLindseyofDenverhasworkedarevolutionamongtheneglectedboysofhiscity,bynoothermethodthanthatofenteringintotilesamemoralwhole,becomingpartofa“we“

  withthem。Heawakenstheirsenseofhonor,trustsit,andisalmostneverdisappointed。Whenhewishestosendaboytothereformschoolthelatterpromisestorepairtotheinstitutionatagiventimeandinvariablydoesso。Amongtrampsasimilarsentimentprevails。“Itwillbefound,“saidayoungmanwhohadspentthesummeramongvagrants,“thatiftheyaretreatedsquaretheywilldothesame。”

  Theidealofservicelikewisegoeswiththesenseofunity。Ifthereisavitalwholetherightaimofindividualactivitycanbenootherthantoservethatwhole。Andthisisnotsomuchatheoryasafeelingthatwillexistwhereverthewholeisfelt。Itisapoorsortofanindividualthatdoesnotfeeltheneedtodevotehimselftothelargerpurposesofthegroup。Inoursocietymanyfeelthisneedinyouthandexpressitontheplaygroundwho,40neversucceedinrealizingitamongthelessintimaterelationsofbusinessorprofessionallife。

  Allmankindacknowledgeskindnessasthelawofrightintercoursewithinasocialgroup。Bycommunionmindsarefusedintoasympatheticwhole,eachpartofwhichtendstosharethelifeofalltherest,sothatkindnessisacommonjoy,andharshnessacommonpain。Itisthesimplest,mostattractive,andmostdiffusedofhumanideals。Thegoldenrulespringsdirectlyfromhumannature。

  Accordinglythisidealhasbeenboundupwithassociationinallpasttimesandamongallpeoples:itwasamatterofcoursethatwhenmenactedtogetherinwar,industry,devotion,sport,orwhatnot,theyformedabrotherhoodorfriendship。Itisperhapsonlyinmoderndays,alongwiththegreatandsuddendifferentiationofactivities,thatfeelinghasfailedtokeepup,andtheideaofcooperationwithoutfriendshiphasbecomefamiliar。

  Mr。Westermarck,thanwhomthereisnobetterauthorityonaquestionofthissort,hasfilledseveralchaptersofhisworkontheOriginandDevelopmentofMoralIdeaswithevidenceoftheuniversalityofkindnessandthekindlyideal。Aftershowingatlengththatuncivilizedpeoplerecognizethedutyofkindnessandsupportfrommothertochild,fathertochild,childtoparent,andamongbrethrenandkinsmen,hegoesontosay:[5]“Butthedutyofhelpingtheneedyandprotectingthoseindangergoesbeyondthelimitsofthefamilyandthegens。Uncivilizedpeoplesare,asarule,describedaskindtowardmembers,41Oftheirowncommunityortribe。Betweenthemselvescharityisenjoinedasadutyandgenerosityispraisedasavirtue。Indeedtheircustomsregardingmutualaidareoftenmuchmorestringentthanourown。

  Andthisappliesc`-cntothelowestsavages。”

  BeginningwiththeAustralians,hequotesthestatementofSpencerandGillenthattheirtreatmentofoneanother“ismarkedonthewholebyconsiderablekindness,thatis,ofcourse,inthecaseofmembersoffriendlygroups,witheverynowandthentheperpetrationofactsofcruelty。”ConcerningtheNorthAmericanIndianshecitesmanywriters。Catlinsays“totheirfriendstherearenopeopleonearththataremorekind。”Adairthat“theyareverykindandliberaltoeveryoneoftheirowntribe,eventothelastmorseloffoodtheyenjoy“;alsothatNature’sschool“teachesthemtheplain,easyrule,Dotoothersasyouwouldbedoneby。”Morganreportsthat“amongtheIroquoiskindnesstotheorphan,hospitalitytoall,andacommonbrotherhoodwereamongthedockinesheldupforacceptancebytheirreligiousinstructors。”AnIroquois“wouldsurrenderhisdinnertofeedthehungry,vacatehisbedtorefreshtheweary,andgiveuphisappareltoclothethenaked。”

  AndsoWestermarckgoeson,intheexhaustivewayfamiliartoreadersofhisworks,toshowthatlikesentimentsprevailtheworldover。KropotkinhascollectedsimilarevidenceinhisMutualAidaFactorinCivilization。

  Thepopularnotionofsavagesaslackinginthegentlerfeelingsisanerrorspringingfromtheexternal,usuallyhostile,natureofourcontactwiththem。Indeed,astateofthings,suchasisfoundinourowncities,wherewant,42andplentyexistsidebysidewithoutthelatterfeelinganycompulsiontorelievetheformer,isshockingandincomprehensibletomanysavages。

  Ordinarilytheidealofkindness?insavageandcivilizedsocietiesalike,appliesonlytothosewithinthesympatheticgroup;themaindifferencebetweencivilizationandsavagery,inthisregard,beingthatundertheformerthegrouptendstoenlarge。Onereasonfortherestrictionisthatkindnessisarousedbysympathy,andcanhavelittlelifeexceptasourimaginationsareopenedtothelivesofothersandtheyaremadepartofourselves。EventheChristianchurch,ashistoryshows,hasforthemostpartinculcatedkindnessonlytothosewithinitsownpale,orwithinaparticularsect;andthemodernidealofakindnessembracingallhumanitymodernatleastsofaraswesternnationsareconcernedisconnectedwithagrowingunderstandingoftheunityoftherace。

  Everyintimategroup,likeeveryindividual,experiencesconflictingimpulseswithinitself,andastheindividualfeelstheneedofdefiniteprinciplestoshapehisconductandgivehimpeace,sothegroupneedslaworruleforthesamepurpose。Itisnotmerelythattheover-strongortheinsubordinatemustberestrained,butthatallalikemayhavesomedefinitecriterionofwhatthegoodmemberoughttodo。Itisamerefactofpsychologythatwhereasocialwholeexistsitmaybeaspainfultodowrongastosufferit梑ecauseone’sownspiritisdivided梐ndthecommonneedisforharmonythroughalaw,framedinthetotalinterest,whicheveryonecanandmustobey。

  Thisneedofrulestoaligndifferentiatedimpulsewith,43thegoodofthewholeisnowheremoreapparentthanontheplayground。

  MissBuck,theauthorofaninstructiveworkonBoys’Self-GoverningClubs,suggeststhattheelementaryformofequityis“takingturns,“asatswingsandthelike;andanyonwhohassharedinaboyscampwillrecalltheconstantdemand,bytheboysthemselves,forrulesofthisnature。Theremustbeafairdistributionofprivilegesastoboats,games,andsoon,andanequaldistributionoffood。AndwelearnfromRobertWoodsthatgangsofboysonthestreetsofcitiesgenerallyhavea“judge“towhomalldisputesarereferredifnoagreementisotherwisereached。[6]

  Nodoubteveryoneremembershowtheideaofjusticeisdevelopedinchildren’sgames。Thereisalwayssomethingtobedone,inwhichvariouspartsaretobetaken,successdependingupontheirefficientdistribution。

  Allseethisanddrawfromexperiencetheideathatthereisahigherprinciplethatoughttocontroltheundisciplinedambitionofindividuals。“Roughgames,“saysMissBuck,“inmanyrespectspresentinminiaturetheconditionsofasocietywhereanidealstateofjustice,freedomandequalityprevails。”“

  Mr。JosephLee,inthepaperquotedabove,expoundsthematteratmorelengthandwithmuchinsight。

  Youmaybeveryintenttobeattheothermanintherace,butafterexperienceofmanyconteststhefairpromiseofwhosemorninghasbeencloudedoverbythelongandmany-wordeddisputeterminatinginageneralrow,withindecisiveandunsatisfyingresult,youbegindimlytoperceivethatyouandtheotherfellowsandtherestofthecrowd,fortheveryreasonthatyouarecontestantsandprospective,44contestants,haveinterestsincommon梚nterestsintheestablishmentandmaintenanceofthosenecessaryrulesandregulationswithoutwhichsatisfactorycontestscannotbecarriedon……Thechild’sneedofconflictisfromadesirenottoexterminatehiscompetitor,buttoovercomehimandtohavehisownsuperiorityacknowledged。Theboydesirestobesomebodybutbeingsomebodyistohimasocialachievement。Andthoughthereistemptationtopervertjustice,totrytogetthedecisionwhenyouhavenotreallyfurnishedtheproof,thereisalsoamotiveagainstsuchprocedure。Thepersonwhomyoureallyandfinallywanttoconvinceisyourself。Yourdeepestdesireistobeattheotherboy,notmerelytoseemtobeathim。Byplayingunfairlyandforcingdecisionsinyourownfavor,youmaypossiblycheattheothers,butyoucannotcheatyourselfButthedecisionsinmostofthedisputeshavebehindthemthefurther,moreobviouslysocial,motiveofcarryingonasuccessfulgame。Thesenseofcommoninteresthasbeenstretchedsoastotakethecompetitiveimpulseitselfintocamp,domesticateit,andmakeitapartofthesocialsystem。

  Theacutelyrealizedfactthatasocietyofchronickickerscanneverplayagameoranythingelse,comestobeseenagainstthebackgroundofapossibleorderlyarrangementofwhichonehashadoccasionalexperience,andwithwhichonehascomeatlasttosympathize;therecomestobetosomeextentanidentificationofone’sowninterestsandpurposeswiththeinterestsandpurposesofthewhole。CertainlythedecisionsofthegroupastowhetherJimmywasoutatfirst,astowhocameoutlast,andwhetherMaryAnnwasreallycaught,arefeltascommunityandnotasindividualdecisions。[7]

  NodoubtAmericanboyshavemoreofthespiritandpracticeofthissortoforganizationthanthoseofanyothercountry,exceptpossiblyEngland:

  theyhavetheconstantspectacleofself-governmentamongtheirelders,andalso,perhaps,someadvantageinnaturalaptitudetohelpthemon。

  Butitisdoubtfulifthereisanygreatdifferenceamongthewhitepeoplesinthelatterregard。AmericanchildrenofGermanandIrishdescentarenot,45inferiortotheAnglo-Saxons,andamongthenewerimmigrantstheJewishchildren,atleast,showamarkedaptitudefororganization。Thequestionmightprofitablybeinvestigatedinourgreatcities。

  Ofcoursetheidealsderivedfromjuvenileexperiencearecarriedoverintothewiderlife,andmenalwaysfinditeasytoconceiverighteousnessintermsoffairplay。“TheSocialQuestion,“saysapenetrativewriter,“isforeveranattackuponwhat,insomeform,isthoughttobeunfairprivilege。”[8]

  Thelaworrulethathumannaturedemandshasademocraticprinciplelatentinit,becauseitmustbeonecongenialtogeneralsentiment。Explicitdemocracy,however梔ecidingbypopularvoteandthelike梚snotprimaryandgeneralliketheneedoflaw,butisratheramechanismfordecidingwhattheruleistobe,andnomorenaturalthantheappealtoauthority。

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