Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 10.djvu/687

 IS SOCIETY A PSYCHICAL UNITY? 67 1

May we, then, with propriety speak of society as a psychical unity? It seems to me that we can, and that it is desirable for sociologists to do so. There is no danger of anyone, either layman or professional, thinking because we do this that society is a conscious organism. The word " psychical " is continually opposed to the word " physical " in ordinary language, and the sociologist would have no advantage in accepting the narrow and technical meaning given the word by some psychologists. The only alternative is to speak of society as a psycho-physical unity ; but this is a cumbrous expression and fails to bring out the dominating and essential nature of the social process. We may conclude, therefore, that if society is a unity at all, the sociologist may with entire propriety speak of it as a psychical unity.

CHARLES A. ELLWOOD.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI.