Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 9.djvu/556

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THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

With the rise of consciousness other interests develop out of these two primitive interests. The former expands into

c) The egotic interest, i. e., the entire circle of self-regarding motives. The latter widens into

d) The social interest.

In proportion as the lower interests are sated, the impetus of thought awakens a feeling of dependence upon the infinite, which gives rise to

e) The transcendental interest, which creates religion and philosophy.

The above is a comprehensive view of the forces that impel living beings, but it is not the best classification of the forces present in human societies. It may be doubted if impulses ought to be grouped solely with reference to their concrete objects, such as species, organism, self, society, cosmos.

Dr. Ward, who has done more than anyone else to elucidate the social forces, makes the following classification :

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Is

forces.

Sociogenetic forces

Indirect, consanguineal.

Moral (seeking the safe and good). ^Esthetic (seeking the beautiful). Intellectual (seeking the useful and true).

For the purposes of philosophy this grouping impresses me as by far the most helpful that has been made. If my own group- ing is somewhat different, it is because for practical use in sociology I prefer a classification based more immediately upon the nature of the desires, and neglecting the functions to which they lead.

Dr. Stuckenberg has grouped the social forces as follows : I. Fundamental.

1. The economic.

2. The political.