108 THE SOCIAL THEORY OF GEORG SIMMEL 
the structure allows at the same time for the passage of 
pressure from above downward, it means that the lower 
circles will have to bear the whole brunt of any additional 
pressure exerted anywhere along the line. Any additional 
burdens and duties laid on the higher circles will then sim- 
ply be passed on downward until they have been com- 
pletely transferred to the lowest circle. Another situation 
arises if the middle circles offer resistance to the passage 
of pressure and completely sever the highest circle from 
the lowest. In that case the isolating layer may in some 
circumstances harm not only the lowest level, but also the 
highest, while in different circumstances it may act as a 
shockbreaker and a protection to both.! 
Superiority and Subordination in Their Psychological 
and Sociological Aspects 
The quantity of superiority or subordination that ex- 
ists within a group gives a distinct character to the group 
as a whole. Societies which contain a great number of su- 
perior-inferior relations, either in the form of a sociological 
pyramid or in the form of parallel and co-ordinated rela- 
tionships, appear to have the general characteristics of 
subordinate groups. The predominance of subordination 
imposes its character on the group as a whole. This is, for 
instance, the case in bureaucratic states. 
That a society as a whole bears the characteristics of 
a ruling group occurs only in rare instances. It is possible 
only if the quality of superiority which elements possess in 
relation to other elements comes to be conceived of as ex- 
isting independently of that interrelation. That one is a 
ruler presupposes a subject. But this logical requirement 
can sometimes be dispensed with. A man may be a ruler 
independently of the fact whether he rules or not, if he has 
lL Soz.. pp. 177-86.