New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-06
OUR SOCIOLOGY AT FAULT.
JOHN GRAHAM BROOKS TALKS TO
GATHERING OF FASHIONABLE
WOMEN.
BOURGEOIS PHILOSOPHY RULES THOUGHT: DEN
ocRArrc PHILOSOPHY. HOWEVER. is

BOURGEOIS PHILOSOPHY RULES THOUGHT: DEM
ocRATrc PHILOSOPHY. HOWEVER. is
CLOSE AT HAND-PovERTY."
John Graham Brooks gave the second or MS
course Of sociological lectures yesterday afternoon
at the Berkeley Lyceum 10 an audience that quite
filled the floor of the theatre His subject was
The Old and New Theories About Society and
Reform"
There have been three distinct stages In the
development of society." said the lecturer. the
aristocratic the bourgeois and the democratic.
The first is slowly dying out, the second is the one
in which we are living, and the third is just MAX
ing its appearance Each one has created Its own
philosophy and the ore that happened to predom-
nate imposed it's way Of thinking on society.
''The aristocrat honestly believed that the world
was made for him, and this theory had It's erect
on all departments Of life. The bourgeois or com
mercial class, measures everything by money, ana
all society does the same. 1t is this mddie class
philosophy which has set its stamp upon our time
and which / wish tc characterize
THE BOURGEOIS PHILOSOPHY.
eft is at the root of the laissez- faire philosophy
which measures all human ability by the power 10
make money. 1t assumes that We must nave poor
people and must have sums 1t identifies the Pri-
vate advantage of one individual with that OF the
whole community, a man who makes TWO miiiiohs
being supposed 10 benefit the community just
responsible for the theory that every one VINO does
not save deserves to go to the poorhouse. 1t mas
produced the passion for cheapness. IL mas
affected our whole system OF education putting
premiums on success. though that were neces-
sary to call forth the best efforts Of the students
It has even affected religion and the Church The
whole preaching OF content has been created ID!
It, and also, | imagine the extreme inslstence on
ones soul and the saving or H.
VARIETY. EVEN IN CHURCH
In connection with this point Mr.. Brooks men
toned an amusing conversation between two women
which he happened to overhear They both be-
longed to the church and were congratulat-
ing themselves on the fact that there was no
woman that select body who did not keep at least
two servants.
This philosophy is also responsible" continued
the lecturer. for the idea that the rich benefit the
poor by the widest possible expenditure Of money
theory that has been cast aside by all sane econo-
msts as the most dsreputabe Of all fallacies."
In conclusion Mr. Brooks asserted that this
philosophy was 40 far out Of date that II was dan
gerous 'AI the greatest thinkers dscredit It," he
said He quoted Huxley TO the effect that II Is only
in far this mad. hot struggle has been modi
fed that have succeeded in getting Civilized
I'VE have not got have the poor with u.s. ne
declared. land there are already indications or the
disappearance of that class. We Will not hasten
that end however by doing things for the poor
The workingman resents cnarity anu VIII nave
Among those present at the lecture were mrs
Warren Goddard Mrs. Lorlllard Spencer Dr ana
Mrs Sanders Or. William s. Rainsford MISS BUY
terworth. Mrs. Ben All Hagen and Miss ka'e
Bond.
ing at II o'clock.