Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 5.djvu/183

 A SOCIOLOGICAL VIEW OF SOVEREIGNTY 169

shown that "in societies as in living bodies increase of mass is habitually accompanied by increase of structure. Along with that integration which is the primary trait of evolution, both exhibit in high degrees the secondary trait of differentiation."' The biological form of this statement conceals the true character of social integration, namely, centralization and subordination, based on private ownership and coercion.

A different defect is found in Ward's account of social struc- tures. He finds the dynamic agent — the agent that causes change in structure — to be feeling. Feeling leads to effort. Effort consists in the "removal of obstacles to the satisfaction of desire," and desire is "the underlying cause of all social pro- gress. It transforms the social environment. It modifies social structures and originates new ones. It establishes constitu- tions."'

We must, of course, allow that desire is the underlying cause of social change. But in doing so we must give such a broad definition to desire that that term becomes meaningless. Ask the schoolgirl why she did so and so, she answers : "'Cause I wanted to." But why did you want to ? "Just because I wanted to." This answer is not adequately specific, whether advanced by the girl or by Mr. Ward. We must discover not merely that desire causes change, but why it is that desire causes this or that particular change. Now, the true immediate cause of organiza- tion is not desire, but necessity. Increase of structure does not remove the obstacles to happiness, but as often the reverse. It brings subordination, which lessens happiness. Workingmen do not join trades unions because they enjoy it, but because they must. So with capitalists organizing trusts, patriots in founding a nation. The compelling force is the increasing density of population and the increasing struggle for existence. Organiza- tion is simply the means whereby those having allied interests are brought together under command of a single will, so that their combined energies are directed promptly on a given point of attack. Survival comes to the organized group, and in the

'Sociology, Vol. I, p. 459. 'Outlines of Sociology, p. 178.