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THE HYPOTHESIS OF THE 'MINIMUM EQUATION' AS A UNIFYING SOCIAL PRINCIPLE: WITH ATTEMPTED SYNTHESIS.

Authors :
Zipe, George Kingsley
Source :
American Sociological Review; Dec47, Vol. 12 Issue 6, p627-650, 24p
Publication Year :
1947

Abstract

The article throws light on the hypothesis and attempted synthesis of the "minimum equation" as a unifying social principle. The basic postulate of the hypothesis of the minimum equation, as far as this article is concerned, is that work is always minimized in human behavior. Next, it defines a human social system as a population of persons who inhabit a large terrain and who co-operate in obtaining like quantities and qualities of goods (and services) for themselves by the expenditure of equivalent rates of work according to rules of conduct that apply to all members of the population. The structure of such a system, including the dispersion of the population, will clearly be subject both to the givens of the terrain (including climate) and to the diversity of raw materials and processes that are used in the production of its goods. The article, thus, outlines the hypothesis of the minimum equation according to which the sum of the products of all masses moved, when multiplied by their work-distances will be minimum. Furthermore, it has elaborated the hypothesis in terms of an analogue in which certain assumptions were made. On the basis of these assumptions, some equations were deduced about the number and diversity of manufacturing and distributing activities.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00031224
Volume :
12
Issue :
6
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
American Sociological Review
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
12883730
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.2307/2086949