In principle, the one who receives alms also gives something; there is a diffusion of effects from him to the giver and this is precisely what converts the donation into an interaction, into a sociological event. But if—as in the case previously cited—the recipient of alms remains completely excluded from the teleological process of the giver, if the poor fulfill no role other than being an almsbox into which alms for Masses are tossed, the interaction is cut short; the donation is no social fact, but a purely individual fact.

DEFINE: Defines the sociological threshold for when a donation is a 'social fact' versus an 'individual fact' — requiring reciprocal diffusion of effects from receiver to giver.

XREF: Connects to sociological exchange theory — Mauss's gift economy and the norm of reciprocity. Simmel is drawing a boundary condition for what counts as a social interaction.

Georg Simmel, on individuality and social…, loc. 418