SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT. All geographical feat ures—the configuration of the laud and water, the climate, above all the food supply and I he various products (animal, vegetable, or mineral) which can be used for various purposes of civilization, constitute the phys ical environment. Of the earliest men those \vim were best adapted to their environment survived, but man has progressed by adapt ing his environment to needs, subject necessarily to its limitations. The development of the science of biology and the formulation of the law of evolution, showing that man is only a higher animal, has led to an emphasis upon the physical environment by modern economists, the Germans especially. The economic conditions and the institutions of early peoples can easily be ex plained by their geographic surroundings. Thus herding is found where animals can easily be domesticated; agriculture where there are spe cial advantages in soil and products; brick-mak ing where wood is scarce and stone not found; hunters of large animals show the beginning of political organization, while those who are de pendent upon small game live in scattered fam ilies. Through the utilization of the physical
environment are developed customs, associations, ideals, and institutions which express the life of the people. These influence man's psychical de velopment and form the social environment, which is more subtle, complex, and far-reaching than the merely physical surroundings. It includes family relationship, the associations inherited from the past, and public opinion of to-day. Prog ress means a continual readjustment to the en vironment. As a result new institutions are evolved, and a change in customs, ideals, or insti tutions takes place whereby a new social en vironment is created, and further adaptation is required. This may be easily illustrated by con trasting the squatter on a prairie farm with the citizen of the thronging city. which, due to some economic advantage—oil-well, mines, or situa tion—grows up in the same place. See GEOGRA