Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/743

 THE SOCIAL MARKING SYSTEM 729

marking-scale always equal, or may they be regarded as equal for the purposes of sociological induction? May we assume, for example, that the step from "native-born of native parents" to "native-born of foreign parents" is neither longer nor shorter than the step from "native-bom of foreign parents" to "foreign- born, English-speaking" ? Or may we assume that the step from "Protestant radical B" to "Protestant conservative" is equal to the step from "Protestant conservative" to "Catholic A"? If these steps or any others on the same scale are unequal, we may still find the scale worth while, and from the data to which it is applied we may draw conclusions within those limits that have been indicated by Galton, Bowley, and Thorndike. If, however, the steps are equal, or may legitimately be treated as if they were equal, the use of the scale is greatly extended.

What then are the facts ? Is it possible for any individual or group of experts to prove, or for the general public to "feel sure," that the "steps" in these various marking-scales are dis- tinguishable in magnitude? If it is alleged that they are distin- guishable, and if the differences can be specified, we can overcome the difficulty, at least in part, by weighting our marks. If, on the other hand, it is admitted that no one can say whether the "steps" are equal, or not, a fact of great consequence to scientific sociol- ogy is thereby established.

The significance of differences and inequalities among factors of a social population* lies in the fact that they are reflected in social feeling and impair the sense of social solidarity, thereby affecting co-operative efficiency. Race conflicts, religious wars, and persecutions, and class conflicts, are expressions of a conscious antagonism which depends for its existence upon a consciousness of difference. If there is no feeling of difference, there is no prejudice; and if differences are too slight or too vague to be detected, the feeling of difference cannot arise.

Therefore, differences among social factors which are not perceived or felt by the social units themselves are without effect upon the important phenomena of prejudice, the consciousness of kind in general, and the sense of social solidarity. For the purposes of sociological theory they may be neglected.