Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 11.djvu/55

 SOCIOLOGICAL CONSTRUCTION LINES 39

The next group in his list is "communication, fascination, and intimidation. And he appropriates the word "association" as a generic name for the three. Would it not be better to let the three stand together as related, if necessary without a common name, rather than to assign this limited meaning to the word " association ? "

The confusion or great overlapping of divisions in a tabula- tion, though it is much less serious than absence of clear ruling concepts as basis for classification, is nevertheless commonly regarded as so serious a defect that it is fitting to raise a query with reference to placing, as co-ordinates in the same ilst, " com- munication " and " intercourse ; " " fascination " and " immita- tion; "assimilation" and "amalgamation;" "multiplication, congregation, conjugation," and, later, " increase of numbers."

Imitation, as shown above, is not the name of a distinct process, but of a form of conditioning relation. The like is true of " fascination," as well as of " division of labor," " organiza- tion," "subordination," etc. On p. 91 "exposure to similar external influences, such as climate," is given as a select example of a social process!

Without further specification, does it not appear that Profes- sor Ross has used the phrase " social process " merely as a con- venient heading and symbol, without formulating any distinct concept of what constitutes the (or a) social process; and has tabulated social processes under the head of "products," while under the head of "social processes" he has tabulated a long list of heterogeneous and non-co-ordinate entries, some of which are varieties of activity, some types of social change, some forms of conditioning relations, and others changes in conditioning relations ? The entries tabulated under the heading " processes " divide, not far from equally, into these four sorts.

Changes in conditions with which, as we have put it, changes in social activities (processes) are to be correlated, and by which such changes are to be explained, are of great importance. And these changes in conditions affecting social phenomena can be thought together as a distinct concept. It does not appear to have been a distinct concept underlying the formation of this list,