The new trends in moral and political ideologies were directly reflected in the writings of aestheticians, particularly in their accounts of the properties and qualities of Taste. The spur for this new thought was perceived and actual social change, and a wide-ranging concern over its implications. The subject of Taste was crucial to many commentators who felt a growing unease over the source of social authority, as new economic conditions were creating a more dynamic society in which traditional standards of marking and recognising social boundaries were increasingly obsolete. The general realisation was a need for some sort of method of distinguishing various social groups and individuals, but within the traditional hierarchical framework so as to maintain social cohesion and stability.