On the record
But the strictly organic conditions which lead men to join, assemble, foregather, combine, are just those which lead other animals to unite in swarms and packs and herds.
Said by
John Dewey
Source
gutenberg.orgJohn Dewey: “But the strictly organic conditions which lead men to join, assemble, foregather, combine, are just those which lead…”
Editor's note · Context
Dewey draws a parallel between the social behaviors of humans and animals, suggesting that organic conditions drive both to form groups.
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More from John Dewey
They are made that way; it is “the nature of the beast.” We do not gain anything by inserting instincts to run, creep, swim and fly between the structure and the act.
There are even those who hold that the presumption is always that social loss will result from agents of the public doing anything which could be done by persons in their private capacity.
There is therefore no necessary connection between the private character of an act and its non-social or anti-social character.
In other words, every officer of the public, whether he represents it as a voter or as a stated official, has a dual capacity.