Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 10.djvu/476

 460 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

already done us the great service of showing that there is more than one species of human association, and thereby refuting the pointless antithesis of "individual, society;" "society, individual." the tiresome iteration of which well-nigh discredited our young science. These studies have, however, been random shots and show no co-ordinating idea. Too often the investigator imagines the particular grouping he analyzes is the pattern of all associa- tion. The first duty, then, is to put an end to this attempt to unlock all doors with one key, by classifying social groupings into genera and species. Once they are thrown into classes and sub- classes according to their psychic characteristics, we shall know just how much ground there is to cover. The next task is so to test and graduate them as to reveal the principal degrees of socialization intervening between the absolute individual and the completest group ego. The octave of stages of collective indi- viduality seems to be something like this:

1 . Those of a certain category, finding a greater mental agree- ment with one another than with other persons, seek out, associate with, and aid one another. Here a diffused sociality exists, but no group ego.

2. They become conscious of their spiritual resemblances, and so begin to think of themselves as a group apart.

3. In case their mental community extends to certain common purposes, they spontaneously co-ordinate their like efforts for the realization of these purposes. Such co-operation leads to a higher degree of sympathy and comprehension. .

4. They spontaneously co-ordinate unlike efforts for the realization of their common purposes. Such division of labor favors a still higher degree of understanding and mutual confi- dence.

5. Directive organs are created to secure co-ordination of efforts. The concrete embodiment of collective aims in one man, or set of men, objectifies the group, and assists the members to a clearer consciousness of their unity.

6. The sympathy among the socii is such that they restrain the members of the community from aggression upon one another. Out of these spontaneous activities develop, first, juristic rules, and, later, organs of control to enforce these rules.