Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 5.djvu/19

 A SOCIOLOGICAL VIEIV OF SOVEREIGNTY 5

different terms are employed for the various institutions, referring each to the peculiar activity of each. The family is based on domestic " affection," denoting sexual and parental love. The state and political parties are based on political "principles" or "opinions," denoting the common feeling of class or national aims and hopes. The church is based on religious " beliefs " and ethical opinions, denoting conscience, or the feeling of guilt, and the feeling of dependence upon a mysterious but perfect power governing nature and society. Industrial property and corpora- tions are based on "self-interest," the sense of coming wants, the " effective desire of accumulation," the love of work. There are other minor institutions, such as schools, "sociables," chari- table associations, etc., which are further differentiations, or cross- ings, of the major ones, and do not have a sufficiently distinct psychic basis to warrant attention in this brief discussion.

It is not difficult in advanced societies to mark off the several mental qualities of the individual, as above, seeing that each has expressed itself in a clean-cut institution. Indeed, to several of these institutions special social sciences have been erected. But in primitive society these mental qualities were blended and fused. Single passions and desires did not stand out alone in the mind of the hordes-man, because he had no institutions to develop them separately. His mind was homogeneous like his society. Religious, political, sexual, industrial activities were all con- cerned with the same small number of fellow-men ; no definite times in the day or year were set apart for each ; the same tools and weapons were used in each ; there was the same headship and subordination. The homogeneous blending of institutions was reflected in the homogeneous blank of his mind. But with the civilized man social institutions are both the condition and expression of self-consciousness. The large field of distinct per- sonal choices which they open up deepens the sense of respon- sibility and personality. This it is that distinguishes belief from desire. Belief is more than desire, yet it is based on desire. Belief is the form, desire the substance, of the psychic life. The pressure of the social group is the education which gives shape to the innate desires and capacities of each individual, bringing