as an instance, may be said to have a certain character of
its own which in some degree affects the individual balls
--by pressure, for example, which imperceptibly alters
their figure, and presumably their molecular structure.
The definitions then must be taken as laying down two
limiting conceptions to which actual things approximate more
or less closely, and which are used in ordinary thought.
Thus, e.g., by the mechanical view of society is meant the
theory which treats human beings as being constant
quantities, whether in or out of their social relations. The
organic view of society recognises an interdependence
whereby the individual is modified by the very social
relations which he himself helps to build up. Without
going deeper into the nature of the organic principle, these
simple considerations may lead us to distinguish two main
lines of organic development. There is, first, degree of
organic unity. A whole is more organic in proportion as
the interdependence of parts is more complete, and one line
of advancing organisation will consist in perfecting this
unity. Then there is, secondly, scope of organisation.
Very simple elements may be very completely organised.
Much more numerous, diverse, or complex elements may
be less completely organised. In the first case, there is a
perfect organism of low or narrow scope. In the second,
an imperfect organism of a higher or wider scope. Scope
of organisation is proportioned to the diversity of elements
which go to build up its unity. A Rhizopod is not so
completely a unity as man is, but even if it were, it would
be a lower organism. It is a unity including much less
of differentiation. From this distinction, it will readily
appear that there are two methods by which organic unity
may develop. One is by the gradual obliteration of the
distinctive characters of the parts, wherein all that is opposed
to unity and organisation is worn away. The other is by
the working out of a type of organisation in which
there is room for more of difference and of what was
before contradiction. It is clear that it is only the
latter form of development by which organisation can grow
in perfection and in scope simultaneously. Taking the
two tests of Unity and Scope together, we may regard

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