Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/880

 864 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

developed forms to all men and women, their strength and the conceptions of their satisfaction varying of course in different persons. Now, in an ideal society all the desires of each indi- vidual would be proportionately developed and find appropriate satisfaction, and here is an important suggestion for social reform. If some of the desires manifested in the group we are studying are too strong while others are too weak, the obvious need is the restraint of the former and the cultivation of the latter.

The suggestion contained in this study of the individual applies not only to a study of society, but to a study of the family as well. A member of a philanthropic committee or a friendly visitor of a charity organization who undertakes the reform of a family is on the lookout, if he is wise, for manifes- tations of what we call the higher desires. In this way he learns what to appeal to. Sometimes he finds that the desire for beauty, manifested perhaps by a sickly flower in the window, rightly addressed will lead a family from the ugliness of vice to the beauty of holy living. It is plain then that in the study of whatever group we may choose, one set of our inquiries must be in regard to the relative development of desires, and the abundance or lack of means appropriate to their satisfaction.

In the same study of the individual it is pointed out that he has certain combining properties. These are the capacity for affection and friendship, and for cooperation, which have enabled him to accomplish such remarkable achievements in society. It is these combining qualities which enable him to unite with others to form the various social groups. The first of these groups in logical order of formation, and perhaps of importance, is the family. It may not be the first historically. That is a question which is yet to be settled. It is often said that the family, the molecule of society, is the earliest form of social organiza- tion. But if the evolutionary theory is correct, we cannot assume that society began its organization with the family, for among the lower animals we find those whose matrimonial relations do not exhibit the least permanence or organization. We find