Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 10.djvu/41

 THE SCOPE OF SOCIOLOGY 2g

Assuming, for the sake of argument, that our conclusions thus far are unchallenged, I see only one radical obstacle in the way of a positive principle of social guidance. It is this: We have not proved that the operation of this process must extend to any definite proportion of the human race. It is possible to contend, somewhat in the spirit of Aristotle, that the conditions of life do not permit many to have much share in the higher ranges of the social process, and that our social program must necessarily contemplate, as the working end, the increasing satis- factions of the few, while the many must always furnish the means by which the few realize the increased quantity and quality of satisfaction. It is, indeed, claimed that modern science, and specially the mass of evidence from which evolutionary generali- zations are reached, distinctly reinforces Aristotle's opinion. We find that nature perfects a few of the lower types, by wasting millions of unfortunate specimens of the type. Is it not probable that human myriads must always be miserable in order that a few may progress? Is not a social program indicated by the facts of life which contemplates the greater good of the few at the expense of the many?

It would be pure pretense to claim that we have a conclusive scientific refutation of the views implied in these questions. There is no visible demonstration that the social process in which we are included does not converge upon excellences in a few at the cost of the rest. That is, the philosophy of Nietzsche, for example, and the working policy of the unsocial fraction of society that would monopolize opportunity so long as there is anything left for them to desire, cannot be absolutely proved to lack sanction in the laws of nature.

Nevertheless, if we hold that the social process involves pro- gressive satisfaction of all the interests, and not merely of some of them, we are obliged to infer that the process must include enough people to satisfy the conditions of its own operation. That is, if we find that the social process, as we know it, indi- cates continuance of higher powers of health, wealth, sociability, knowledge, beauty, and Tightness satisfaction for somebody, we are bound to conclude that the population concerned in that