Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 10.djvu/163

 THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOLOGY 1 5 I

some measure mitigated, if not abandoned. As a means of interpreting contemporary or historical social facts the conflict theory with the group psychology which this involves has obviously a practical value. The organic unity of a modern city or nation is an elusive idea in contrast with the contests of classes, sects, races, and parties, which lie upon the surface. Yet it would be a serious error wholly to lose sight of the larger unity which actually underlies these apparently endless group-struggles.

Comte based his idea of social unity not only on the organic or naturalistic analogy, 24 but on consensus or psychical commun- ity. Of late it is the latter concept which has been elaborated. The idea of a social or group-spirit is not new : it is a philo- sophical notion of long standing. The Zeitgeist, the popular will, public opinion, were familiar phrases long before the days of social psychology. Spencer, Schaffle, and Lilienfeld recognized the psychical nature of society, but their attention was too much fixed upon the rounding out of their analogies. 25 They assumed what others have sought to analyze. The concept of the social mind is playing a more and more important part. It was a some- what mystical idea with the founders of Volker psychologic, Lazarus and Steinthal, but it has become increasingly concrete and definite, until it may perhaps be regarded as the most fruitful field of contemporary sociological research. The need of such a theory was made clear by the failure of the biological school to supply an adequate explanation of social unity. Mere division of labor and an interdependence almost wholly economic left too much to be desired.

Beginning with a general statement like this from Lazarus, " A people is a collection of men who regard themselves a people. It is the spiritual achievement of those who compose it, who ceaselessly create it," 26 it is instructive to trace the gradual closing in upon the problem. Lewes made several illuminating observa-

14 COMTE, Cours de philosophic positive, Vol. IV, p. 460.

to social psychology in his studies of leadership and authority, and the reaction upon them of the public or group. Loc. cit., Vol. I, pp. 205-31.
 * It should be noted, nevertheless, that Schaffle made important contributions

M LAZARUS, Das Leben der Seelen, Vol. I, p. 372.