RELATION OF SOCIOLOGY TO BIOLOGY. 427 



of the time universe, Darwin ma}' with some though with much less 

 show of reason be called its Newton. I say with less show of reason, 

 for the causes of evolution are yet very imperfectly known. 



Now, not only are all these methods applicable to the study of 

 sociolog}', but all the advance in this science which has taken place in 

 recent times has been the result of their apphcation. For how has 

 sociology been advanced, and must continue to be advanced ? 1. By 

 the comparison of social organisms, nations, tribes, etc., as they now 

 exist in different portions of the earth and in different grades and kinds 

 of civilization, with each other, in institutions, habits, customs, forms 

 of government, etc. Is not this the taxonomic series ? 3. By compar- 

 ing the different stages of development of the same social organism, 

 from savagism to the highest degree of civilization, and marking the 

 origin, growth, and modification of government, institutions, customs, 

 etc. Is not this the embryonic or ontogenic series ? 3. By comparing 

 with each other the successive stages of advance of all social organisms 

 of the whole race through the rude stone, the polished stone, the bronze, 

 and the iron conditions. This is M. Comte's historic method ; but is it 

 not the geological or phylogenic series ? 4. By comparing the same 

 social organism with itself in its normal and abnormal conditions, i. e., 

 in a state of peace, prosperity, social health, and social sanity, with the 

 same in various states of commotion, revolution, anarchy, social fever, 

 and social frenzy. Is not this the pathological series ? It is impos- 

 sible to doubt that these are the true scientific methods of sociology. 

 But they were all first used in biology, and only afterward imported 

 into sociology. 



But it will perhaps be objected : " This supposed relation of sociology 

 to biology is but an analogy which has not even the merit of being new 

 or recent. It has always been recognized. It is well expressed by the 

 story told by Menenius Agrippa to the mutinous Roman plebeians, in 

 which he showed the absurdity of their conduct by comparing the con- 

 dition of Rome to a state of war among the members of the body. It 

 is also admirably expressed by St. Paul in his comparison of the church 

 to a well-organized body with different members having different func- 

 tions. The analogy has always been recognized, but has not borne any 

 special fruit in the advancement of social science, or the betterment of 

 the social condition." To this I answer : Yes, it has always been recog- 

 nized ; but there are different degrees of recognition, and it is only the 

 higher degrees ichich bear any scientific fruit. In this, as in other 

 departments, a recognition of the laws of nature by the imagination 

 gives rise to metaphor, simile, poetry, art, and in its highest manifesta- 

 tions is what we call genius. A dim, imperfect recognition of the same 

 by the reason constitutes analogy. The clear recognition by the rea- 

 son of the same in all its details, so that the application of appropriate 

 methods becomes possible, constitutes science. Tims sociology, like 



