The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-26
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human nature and history, and max
them the object Of it's special investi-
cation. 1t must limit itself to deal
ing specifically with that in society
which is society and is not something
else. 1t must deal with phenomena
that are strictly social phenomena.
Whatever the subject which the
student In sociology studies he is not
sociological and does not contribute
to the science of sociology unless his
studies and findings have some
sOcietary nature and relations; unless
he relates them to the facts, to the
causes, the laws and the tendencies of
natural human specialization, to the
unity of human beings in what we call
society. Society, as an idea, is sum-
ming up concept in which our con-
cepts of all the threads of human as
ISOLATION are united. All the pheno-
mena that are social are the data of
sociological study, and its meUhod is
that of close and discriminating OBJ
servation and logical induction.
Sociology is our knowledge of SECRETARY
facts and phenomena scientifically
tested and related.
We have need of such science. All
true and useful knowledge is related
knowledge. knowledge of unrelated
facts is pretty sure to be confusing
knowledge. All true philosophy is
synthetic philosophy. The universe
is unity. Our knowledge is not
sociological if it is not related to as
sociational facts, laws and tendencies.
Sociology is the science that treats of
phenomena that are definitively social
phenomena, and especially Of the
phenomena, and the laws of them,
that are manifest in social Organiza-
tiOn. Whatever has not to do with
this is outside the proper boundaries
of sociology.
Prof. Rowe opened the discussion.
He held that the two main points
carefully laid down in the paper as to
sociology being science dealing with
the laws, causes, facts and tendencies
of social organization, and that it is
not simply an inventory of other
sciences nor classification of socie-
tary facts, were unassailable. He en-
tered little further into the defini-
tion of sociology and quoted from a
paper prepared by DR.. Fulcomer, of
the Chicago university, upon the SUBJ
ject, in which he had collected the
ideas of the leading professors of
professors of sociology in this country,
showing that it is the study of the
elements that make up society, and
the simplest forms in which they are
combined and organized, and followed
with discussion of the same.
The general discussion of the SUBJ
ject was sharp and spirited. Itcover-
ed not only points in the paper as to
methods of sociological study, or
rather what sociology is, and also the
question that was sprung, growing
out of the paper, as to whether our in
creased education is really benefit
to mankind, whether it does not tend
to promote discomfort rather than
happiness. 1t was held that our ad-
vanced civilization was educating in
man desire for wants that he cannot
satisfy, and that in this it was an
evil rather than benefit. This was
strongly combatted, it being held that
happiness as being defined to mean
perfect contentment with ones lot.
no matter how lowly, was not the
| highest aim of mans life, that his
mission was to grow, to be more help
full to others. That discomfort was
not altogether bad, in that it was the
real source of true progress and does
not mean that one is wholly devoid of
happiness while striving for some
thing better. This latter view seemed
to be the general sentiment of the
club. The discussion was quite gen
orally INDUCED in, and was a most in
teresting one all around.
The next meeting of the club will
be held On March 9th, when Dry FL.
Hielscher will read paper on sUni.
versity Settlement"
The ST. Pettr Herald saws that
Roger DeDzer has signed with the
Chicago base ball club and will leave
for there March 18th, and join the
team in Hot Springs for the spring
practice. 90
w Q. Williams, of St. Paul. has