FACT — FACTORS OF PRODUCTION
Fact is distinguished from Truth (q. v.) in
that (i) it is immediate, a datum carrying
the belief on the part of the observer that it
is independent of him; and also in that (2) it
is immediately objective, a matter of presenta¬
tion in time or space. Such expressions as
the ‘ universe,’ or ‘ world,’ or ‘ thing of fact,’
all emphasize one or other of these two char¬
acters, in contrast with the spheres of desire,
value, discourse, &c., which implicate attitudes
or constructions on the part of the observer.
Fact might be defined thus : datum of experi¬
ence considered as abstracted from the experi¬
ence of which it is a datum. The notion of
fact includes abstraction even from the ex¬
perience by which the fact is reached or as¬
serted. And inasmuch as it is just this sort of
abstraction which the notion of actuality—or
of the so-called ‘ trans-subjective ’—covers, we
may say that a fact is anything which is found
to be actual. The fact is, however, not absolute,
but always relative to some experience.
Literature : see Epistemology, and Truth
and Error. (j.m.b., g.f.s.)
Leibnitz distinguished ‘ truths of fact ’
(vérités de fait) from £ truths of reason ’
(vérités de raisonnement) ; the first being
guaranteed by the ‘ law of sufficient reason,’
the second by the ‘ law of contradiction.’ (k.g.)
Fact (in law). Whatever has occurred ;
an act or event by which a thing has been
brought into relation with a person. Investi¬
tive fact : one by which a right comes into
existence. Divestitive fact : one by which a
right is divested. Translative fact : one by
which a right is transferred.
Literature: Pollock, First Book of Juris¬
prudence, chap. vi. 132; Holland, Juris¬
prudence, chap. x. 2. (s.e.b.)
Factitious : see Intrinsic and Extrinsic.
Factor [Lat. facere, to make] : Ger. Factor ;
Fr. facteur) Ital. fattore. Anyone of a plu¬
rality of causes or conditions which together
determine a thing or event.
Technical uses of the term are in mathe¬
matics, biology, aesthetics, &c. : see Factors
oe Evolution. (j.m.b.)
Factors of Evolution : Ger. Factoren der
Evolution-, Fr. facteurs de Vévolution-, Ital.
fattori delV evoluzione. The agencies or con¬
ditions of whatever character which determine
organic evolution.
The word factor is made to cover both terms
of the distinction between Force and Condition
made under that topic. The causes of or¬
ganic evolution must themselves be phenomena
of an organic or vital sort—the subject-matter
of biology. But, as in other sciences, we find
the operation of these properly biological forces
or causes conditioned, limited, and interfered
with by extra-biological conditions. The
greatest of all these is natural selection, which
is a restriction set upon mating, not a bio¬
logical cause or even a positive force of any
sort. So isolation, artificial selection, &c. ;
these are all conditions of evolution, and factors
of a real but in a sense negative value. On the
other hand, the vital functions of reproduction,
variation, accommodation, direct competition,
preying, &c., are biological forces, the motive
principles belonging distinctively to life. These
are causes or factors of a positive sort, in the
determination of evolution. (j.m.b.)
This distinction roughly corresponds to that
between (1) originative, and (2) directive
factors, the latter being the conditions, the
former the causes. Prior to Darwin, the chief
factor recognized in evolution as progressive
was that which is now associated with the
name of Lamarck, the transmission to offspring
of that which the organism gained by indi¬
vidual effort, together with that indicated by
Buffon, the transmission of that which is im¬
pressed on the organism by the environment.
Darwin and Wallace suggested natural selec¬
tion as the chief directive factor in progress.
Wallace and Weismann regard natural selec¬
tion as the all-sufficient directive factor of
progressive evolution. Mivart, Nägeli, and
others believe in an inherent tendency to
progress in certain directions. Natural selec¬
tion as a directive factor is universally recog¬
nized, though its range is still open to discus¬
sion. Sexual selection by selective mating
was regarded by Darwin as a supplementary
directive factor in evolution. The Organic
Selection (q.v.) of Baldwin, Morgan, and
Osborn, and Karl Pearson’s Eeproductive or
Genetic Selection (q.v.) have also been added
to the list of factors of organic evolution.
The importance of Isolation (q.v.) as a
factor was recognized by Moritz Wagner (1868),
and has been emphasized by Gulick and
Romanes. The Physiological Selection
(q.v.) of the latter author is now generally
regarded as an isolation factor.
Literature : see Evolution, Isolation,
Natural Selection, and the references given
under the special topics mentioned. (c.Ll.m.)
Factors of Production : Ger. Factoren
der Produktion; Fr. facteurs de la production)
Ital. fattori della produzierte. Agencies of
different character, whose combination is es¬
sential for the production of wealth.
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