208 THE SOCIAL THEORY OF GEORG SIMMEL

In the economic world, money fulfils the sociological
function of correlating the maximum extension of the circle
with the maximum differentiation of the individual, not
only with regard to the factual division of labor, but also
with regard to his formal freedom and autonomy. It
changes the small, homogeneous, self-contained circle of
the natural economy into a group which manifests both
extension and differentiation.
In political developments, the same constellation is
found in a great many different forms. It occurred in the
field of agrarian policy when, after the abolishment of collective
 ownership, the commons became partly public
domain, partly private property. It occurred in the field
of internal politics when, after the abolishment of the semipublic
 corporation, its functions were taken over partly
by the state, partly by private associations.
Further illustrations of the correlation may be cited
from the domain of law. The absolutism of the Roman
state had a correlate in a certain absolutism of the individual.
 There was a jus privatum next to the jus publicum.
There were norms for the all-inclusive totality, but also
for the individuals whom it included. There existed a law
for the larger community on the one hand and for the individual
 on the other hand, but not for the intermediate
group. The old Roman law did not recognize the corporation
 as a subject of special law. In medieval Europe, on
the other hand, there was no distinction between private
and public law. But the communities of that period were
not large inclusive unities like the Roman Empire, but
small social circles which arose out of the needs and interests
 of individuals. There was no necessity for a separation
of public and private law, because the individual was more
intimately bound up in the community and expressed his
individuality in his community life.