Social Organization: A Survey of its Problems and Forms from the Standpoint of the Present Crisis

Abstract

A survey of organization in all its manifestations, in the biological organism, in animal societies (so-called), in past and present human political society and in the various groupings of human beings inside of “society” for the infinite variety of purposes for which men form associations and act together – such a survey suggests that the forms of organization may be grouped under a few main types. The first is a rigid mechanical inter-connection, as in the case of the animal body. The material system of nerves and their end-organs is familiar to all students of physiology. Recent study has shown that there is another mechanism, probably prior to the nervous system and possibly even more important in many ways, for co-ordinating the activities of the parts of the animal body. That is the circulatory system with the chemical reagents secreted in small amounts by each part and carried to other parts to produce changes in them – “hormone” action. But we are not concerned with these devices further than to notice that both are purely mechanical, and that they are neither available nor desirable as means for the organization of society, and may accordingly be dismissed. We should observe, however, that the mechanical problems of intercommunication and inter-transportation are present in human society and the manner and degree of their solution strictly limit and condition the workings of any form of organization. The difference is that in human society co-operation is and must be a conscious, intelligent response on the part of the “member,” not an automatic reaction. (The amount of physical coercion not involving “choice” of some sort by the individual is quite negligible, even the so-called use of “force” is really a manipulation of alternatives of choice.)

Citation

Emmett, R.B. (2011), "Social Organization: A Survey of its Problems and Forms from the Standpoint of the Present Crisis", Emmett, R.B. (Ed.) Frank H. Knight in Iowa City, 1919–1928 (Research in the History of Economic Thought and Methodology, Vol. 29 Part 2), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 65-88. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0743-4154(2011)000029B011