Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XV.djvu/155

 SOCORRO SOCRATES 14T tions. The structures are forms of govern- ment, civil, ecclesiastical, military, industrial, and ceremonial ; the functions are sentiments, ideas, industrial processes, the fine arts; and both closely resemble the structures and func- tions of an individual organism. In his " First Principles " he goes further, and seeks to de- rive social and organic together with inorganic laws from certain ultimate principles. Thus the origin of division of labor in a commu- nity, and differences in industrial occupations, are clearly due to diversities of external cir- cumstances. This is an induction ; as a mat- ter of fact all simple societies, various groups of which are exposed to unlike outward condi- tions, tend to become complex societies. Spen- cer's a priori explanation is that, all influence being force, river banks, sea shores, all cli- matic and local conditions, are forces. If they do not influence the feelings and thus modify the habits of organic beings near them, they are wasted ; but this is inconceivable, for force >ersists. The instability of homogeneous or >w forms of social life is therefore deducible rom the persistence of force. Passing from leral to special aspects of sociology, his plan ibraces next the history of the domestic re- itions. Political organizations as historically ised on the family will then be elucidated, ind the functions of government discrimina- 3d. The necessary development of industry rom slavery through serfdom to cooperation all be shown. Intellectual, aesthetic, and loral progress will be regarded as psycho- ical processes determined by social condi- ns. And finally all phases of society will shown to be connected with and reacting m one another. But one division of this im- lense work has been executed (1876). SOCORRO, a S. W. county of New Mexico, ordering on Arizona, intersected in the east >y the Rio Grande, and containing the sources the Gila river; area, about 11,500 sq. m. ; >p. in 1870, 6,603. There are fertile val- ays along the streams, but the greater part of le county is mountainous and unproductive, rold, iron, and other minerals are found. The lief productions in 1870 were 26,889 bushels )f wheat, 26,860 of Indian corn, 24,006 Ibs. of rool, and 2,150 gallons of wine. There were 571 horses, 1,313 milch cows, 1,628 working >xen, 1,514 other cattle, 23,500 sheep, 547 swine, and 4 flour mills. Capital, Socorro. SOCOTRA, an island in the Indian ocean, be- longing to the sultan of Oman, about 130 m. !. N". E. of Cape Guardafui, the eastern ex- imity of Africa ; length about 75 m., breadth )out 25 m. ; area, 1,309 sq. m. ; pop. about ,000. Tamarida, the capital, is in lat. 12 39' T., Ion. 54 V E. The surface is generally about 800 ft. above the sea, and the shores are bold. Toward the north there is a ridge of moun- tains with several peaks rising to the height of 5,000 ft. There are some small streams, and where there is sufficient moisture vegetation remarkably luxuriant. Date trees and cot- ton are cultivated ; but Socotra is particularly famous for aloes and the gum of the dragon's blood tree, both of which are said to be the finest in the world. Camels, horned cattle, sheep, asses, and goats are reared. There is some trade with Muscat. Christianity appears to have been planted on this island during the apostolic age, and it remained Christian until the end of the 15th century, sharing the fate of the Nestorian church, which the Socotrans had joined. The Portuguese several times at- tempted to occupy the island and to revive Christianity. In 1834 the English explored Socotra and appeared disposed to occupy it ; but they abandoned the design when they oc- cupied Aden. There are two peculiar tribes on the island, one said to be descendants of Jews, and the other of the Portuguese. SOCRATES, a Greek philosopher, born in the immediate neighborhood of Athens between 471 and 469 B. 0., died in that city in 899. He was the son of Sophroniscus, a sculptor, and of Pha3narete, a midwife, and was trained in his father's art. Tradition ascribed to his chisel three draped figures of the Graces which in the time of Pausanias were shown at the entrance to the acropolis. As a philosopher he called himself self-taught, and referred his knowledge sometimes to books, but more fre- quently to intercourse with distinguished men. Though traditionally represented as an old, bald-headed man, it is probable that his ex- traordinary peculiarities were early manifest- ed, and it is certain that he was famous both among wits and the populace in 423, when the "Clouds" of Aristophanes was first exhib- ited. Plato, Xenophon, and Aristophanes offer different phases and estimates of his philoso- phy, but agree in the outline of his personal qualities and habits. With remarkable physi- cal strength and endurance, he trained himself to coarse fare, scanty clothing, bare feet, and indifference to heat or cold, aiming thus to re- duce the number of his wants, as a distant ap- proach to the perfection of the gods. He had a flat nose, thick lips, prominent eyes, bald pate, squat figure, and ungainly gait, and wandered about the streets of Athens, standing motion- less for hours in meditation, and charming all classes and ages by his conversation ; so that Alcibiades (in Plato's Symposium) likened him to an uncouthly sculptured Silenus containing within the images of the gods, and declared that " as he talks, the hearts of all who hear leap up and their tears are poured out." Though a sage and a martyr, he was wholly removed from asceticism, exemplified the finest Athe- nian social culture, was a witty as well as seri- ous disputant, and on festive occasions would drink more wine than any other guest without being overcome. Few events of his life are recorded. Of his wife Xanthippe, .all that has passed into history is that she bore him three sons, that she had a violent temper, and that he said he married and endured her for self- discipline. He was an enthusiastic lover of