New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-27
NEW. PUBLICATIONS.
THE sCIENCE or sOClETY.


III, NJ u.rlert spenoer has devoted himself since
,seo no has nc length reached that division of 1t
which IA of most general interest and viii arrest the
critical attention Of largo class OF thinkers MS
is the long-expected Principles OF Sociology TWO
inxtalltneuts Of which are now issued The work 10
unonestionaby one Of great Importance peins
nothing less than elaborate attempt by MASTER
mind TO extend, to organize, and give more sciei
tito form 70 our knowledge of the social relations Oh
mankind and II Il succeeds, viii constitute one Oh
the most important STEPS the modern progress OF
kno,ylee. Such has been the breadth and thorough
ness ~ Mr. spencer's preparation for this branch OF
his undertaking and so strongly have many OF his
,das become impressed upon the cultivated mind OF
The fine that IL is necessary TO recall the main fea
,rras nj his enterprise il would form any just OF
adequate conception Of the claims and promise OF
that important portion Of IL upon which he mas no"
entered.
A is to be remembered first of ALL that MI spencer
has not merely undertaken TO digest or exponnd IN
n large way the principles of All established sciences
Int he has nderta en ON the other hand, TO reduce
10 scientific order the diversified materials of vast
snhect which has never yet proved amenable TO such
methodical treatment, and which is generally be-
heved 20 he quite incapable of IL. lie has not only
undertaken 10 do that which has never before been
done. but 10 do that which is held by many rs
sheer impossib1ity. II this be so. of course Mr.
Spencer is pursIiiRg chimera Yet the reason OF
this doubt purely NEGATIVE II is inferred that be-
eause social science has not yet been created there
fore IL never can be created but TO this it is sut-
eient reply that there has been such systematic
effort to treat social phenomena scientifically as
will Justify the conclusion that it is impractical
BILE The essential question ie, Are the phenomena
of human society TO be studied IN the same
manner as the other phenomena of nature, that
is by scientific methods; and certainly no reason
n Il. - tfrlafl N
conducted should not lead to the establishment of
body Of generalized knowledge Of truly scientific
character That the subject If difficult, that its
complexities have thus far bafed analysis, and can
never be reduced to mathematical exactness of
statement may be freely admitted But 1t must be
also admitted that wherever there are phenomena
governed by principles Of order, facts that can he
observed compared and generalized or effects that
are traceabe TO causes OF uniformltes OF relation,
that result from the operation of natural laws
there Is the possibility of Observation-Disclosures may be
the degree of exactness with which its subject mat
ter may be presented. Human society is such
sphere and is therefore amenable to both nductive
and deduotive study in the calculation of its gene
raj truths, like the other phenomena of nature.
IL IL not Of course TO be expected that Sociology
can ever become as perfect the sciences which
deal with simpler phenomena; though how perfect
II may become il would be unwise at present to say
Every science has grown far beyond the limits OF
it, frst expectations To those who object that So
GEOLOGY can never be treated with the cearness and
precision that science requires, IL may be replied
that in this respect, there is no uniform standard
the different sciences being capable of very unequal
degrees Of exsctness They are all, in fact, but the
gradual unfoldings of cOumon knowledge into more
perfect forms; are all still imperfect and advancing
at very unequal rates. Ii may be further replied
that we already have the rndiments of an empirical
social science There facts and laws of the social
state 80 clear and certain that they form the fcunda-
tions Of an activity that is guided by intelligence
Every enactment that is framed, every voluntary
association that is organized for social ends every
project of public smeoratoa that is undertaken.
presupposes order of social relations the action OF
causes producing calculable effects and facts by
which the policy ia each is shaped. Can 1t be
supposed that this knowledge is incapable of further
extension greater clearness, or more methodieal
ropr,sentationi Is that kind of knowledge which
is at once the most Important and the objects of
which most familiar, exceptionally incapable OF
improverneutt II is the essence of science that it
reveals objective order, and thus oOnfers fore
sight viii not perfecting knowledge of the social
order also confer foresight in social affarsi That
our present defective knowledge of the principles
that operative in society is capable of develop
ment and must advance In the same way that other
branches of knowledge have advanced would there
fore 10 be indsputable and if form of
social science. il is termed Sociology, is
certainly reasonable expectation.
The doubt that has arisen in regard TO the possi-
bility of giving definite scientific form to social
knowledge is largely due to msconception RS to
what social science is The term has been so per-
verted and used to all kinds of schemes and
devices for the Improvement of society and all kinds
Of doctrines and spec0latons regarding social regen
Grafton that most people forget its true application,
which is simply TO classified and organized knowl-
edge concerning the social state Science. strictly
considered. takes cognizance of the to which
10 may be applied; it is occupied solely with the
study OF phenomena, aud the establishment of their
relations The true object of Sociology must be to
collect the comprehensive data of the subject, to
analyze and classify the facts presented by human
societies Of all types and grades-whetber advancing
stationary, or retrograding; to trace the modfca-
tiOns of social life that dependent upon the vary
ing physical, emotional and intellectual natures Of
men, and the diverse natural circumstances Of
munities; and 70 determine the natural conditions
and laws under which all the various elements of the
social state, intellectual, moral. civil religious,
aesthetic, industrial, and commercial have been
developed. In short, genuine Sociology, appealing
for help to all the sciences that yield it, will
eucdate the subject of human society Just geology
has done that of the crust Of the earth. Geology
gives knowledge that turns out to have great value
for practical purposes, but that not the
object of pure geological science which aims to
establish facts and laws whether they prove imme-
diately useful or not. In like manner sociological
science while IL is certain 10 yield results Of i'm
moment In WAYS, vet proposes nothing