CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE 



The scien- 

 tific basis 



Thought 

 and action 



SOCIOLOGY FROM A BIOLOGIST'S POINT OF VIEW 



1. A PURELY objective sociology, regarding dis- 

 passionately the phenomena of human society, is 

 scarcely desirable. It may be considered more 

 "scientific" or "academic" to review the subject as 

 we might the natural history of snails ; but one who is 

 trained to study humanity unmoved does not make a 

 very good citizen. There is an optimum state of mind 

 somewhere between the extremes of cold scientific 

 analysis and irresponsible emotionalism. The natural- 

 ist Wallace said in his old age that he had come to 

 believe that no one deserved credit for his opinions, 

 but only for the acts resulting from them. Faith 

 without works is sterile, even though it be scientific 

 faith. 



2. We must, however, guard ourselves against the 

 assumption that "pure science" is valueless, when it 

 appears to have no practical outcome. The study of 

 snails, or of any other phase of natural history, con- 

 tributes to that basic philosophy which underlies the 

 conduct of civilized man. Our sense of security, our 

 reliance on the order of the Universe, whether we call 

 it God or by some other name, depends upon our 

 assurance that system prevails rather than chaos. It 

 is the task of science to study the book of nature, and 

 demonstrate that the letters in it spell words, the words 

 make sentences, and the sentences embody the law 

 which all must obey. Thus no scientific work is sterile, 

 provided it really interprets or reveals natural order. 



3. Why, then, should not sociology be treated as a 

 "pure science"? It may be so treated by a certain 

 number of specialists ; but whereas many studies con- 



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