AND ON THE CONTINENT.

05

1.—Arranynncnt and Division of Labour in the Industry.

Marshall, in one portion of his last work, points to the connec­tion between national economy and natural science. The latter has borrowed from national economical writers tbe representation of the struggle for existence; but to-day it pays back the debt by enriching national economy with its teaching of organic development. Marshall thinks, apparently, in this respect, about the development-teaching of Herbert Spencer , which allows happy analogies to be applied to the social and economical side.

Every development consists, according to this view, in the first instance in the formation of single centres for development by the collection of matter; it is in the first degree a history of increasing dimensions and accumulating positiveness, as compared with the surrounding state : Integration. Besides this, it is a. history of growing inner valuation. The homogeneous structure gives way to the improvement of parts, which develop themselves independently in an increasing degree and ever undertake more varied functions. But in proportion as the parts become different from one another their mutual dependence increases. The one cannot exist without the other; a change of the part alters the whole ; a disturbance of the part disturbs the whole: Differentia­tion. This is applicable to physiological as well as social occurrences.

Tlius the development progresses from the minute living form of the lowest class to the powerful phase of the higher animal world; from the protoplast, which is very little different from its surroundings, to definite wholes, complete of themselves, and sharply defined from their surroundings. Whilst in the lower stages of development the inner structure is homogeneous, an increasing variation of the parts is ever formed ; in place of similar­shaped cellular formations appear complicated organisms. Originally every part performs all functions; thus the original particle performs the functions of nourishment and perpetuation at the same time. Later on there is developed for every function a special organ. Therewith the mutual dependency of the parts upon one another increases; for instance, of the heart upon the nerve system, and of the whole upon the parts. Those lower stages of life can be separated at will; they still live on. The mutilation of one of the organs of the higher organism is detri­mental to all the other organs, indeed can kill the whole organism

(G)._ _

0. Compare, for this, Herbert Spencer : “ First Principles ” nnd“ Principles of Biology,” part I.

F