The Principles of Biology, Volume 1 (of 2)Spencer, Herbert
Science
The Principles of Biology, Volume 1 (of 2)
Spencer, Herbert
Biology
Having thus seen that in a way we have not hitherto recognized the same
general principles pervade inorganic and organic evolution, let us revert
to the case of super-organic evolution from which a parallel was drawn
above. As analogous to the germinal mass of units out of which a new
organism is to evolve, let us take an assemblage of colonists not yet
socially organized but placed in a fertile region--men derived from a
society (or rather a succession of societies) of long-established type, who
have in their adapted natures the proclivity towards that type. In passing
from its wholly unorganized state to an organized state, what will be the
first step? Clearly this assemblage, though it may have within the
constitutions of its units the potentialities of a specific structure, will
not develop forthwith the details of that structure. The inherited natures
of its units will first show themselves by separating into large groups
devoted to strongly-distinguished occupations. The great mass, dispersing
over promising lands, will make preparations for farming. Another
considerable portion, prompted by the general needs, will begin to form a
cluster of habitations and a trading centre. Yet a third group, recognizing
the demand for wood, alike for agricultural and building purposes, will
betake themselves to the adjacent forests. But in no case will the primary
assemblage, before these separations, settle the arrangements and actions
of each group: it will leave each group to settle them for itself. So, too,
after these divisions have arisen. The agricultural division will not as a
whole prescribe the doings of its members. Spontaneous segregation will
occur: some going to a pastoral region and some to a tract which promises
good crops. Nor within each of these bodies will the organization be
dictated by the whole. The pastoral group will separate itself into
clusters who tend sheep on the hills and clusters who feed cattle on the
plains. Meanwhile those who have gravitated towards urban occupations will
some of them make bricks or quarry stone, while others fall into classes
who build walls, classes who prepare fittings, classes who supply
furniture. Then along with completion of the houses will go occupation of
them by men who bake bread, who make clothing, who sell liquors, and so on.
Thus each great group will go on organizing itself irrespective of the
rest; the sub-groups within each will do the same; and so will the
sub-sub-groups. Quite independently of the people on the hills and the
plains and in the town, those in the forest will divide spontaneously into
parties who cut down trees, parties who trim and saw them, parties who
carry away the timbers; while every party forms for itself an organization
of "butty" or "boss," and those who work under him. Similarly with the
ultimate divisions--the separate families: the arrangements and
apportionments of duties in each are internally determined. Mark the fact
which here chiefly concerns us.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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