III2 LIFE : OUTLINES OF GENERAL BIOLOGY 



their historians agree in caUing revolutions — the societies and 

 persons who are most active in these continue to feel and proclaim 

 an optimistic assurance of "Progress", so that this still remains the 

 popularly current meaning and spirit of the word. But disillusions, 

 as above noted, were inevitable and are increasing ; till now, in our 

 own times of Wars and After-wars, the cautious historical thinker 

 dare hardly affirm progress, and so feels inclined to abandon the very 

 word, as Prof. Bury's recent Essay on Progress sums up towards. 

 Will "History" then suffice? Only so far as we stretch it beyond its 

 original and ordinary use and meaning, as narrative of past events, 

 and extend it through the present into the future. So far that seems 

 well, for a thoughtful minority at least; yet the recorded past, the 

 passing present, and the as yet undiscerned future, cannot be 

 included in the same term "History" — itself so much more histori- 

 cally established than is any other term in social science, such as 

 "Progress", to take this conspicuous and comparatively recent 

 example. 



Moreover, to give up as a scientific term this word "Progress", 

 because at times confused, misused, indeed too often abused, even 

 to charlatanism, would also be losing its better use, to express 

 advance in social evolution, and of its heritage accordingly; which 

 is so often inspiring, and this to whole peoples, and their generous 

 youth above all. We should thus, as the German proverb puts it, 

 be throwing out the baby with the bath; for what could be more 

 discouraging to the public, whom science in these days soon reaches. 

 For a new misunderstanding, from dropping their so familiarly 

 hopeful term, would speedily arise, even to press head-lines, thus: 

 "Social Scientists no longer admit Progress!" To correct this might 

 be yet more difficult than it now may be to explain for society and 

 socian, just as the biologist does for race and individual, that 

 "Evolution" and "Progress" may unexpectedly turn in very unde- 

 sirable directions, and, in fact, give place to degeneration and 

 regress; a change which indeed constantly needs guarding against. 

 Let us follow the example of our prophets above-named, and so 

 hold up the symbolic Y of Pythagoras; for here is the perpetual 

 choice before us, progress by the broad or by the narrow way, by 

 the difficult right-hand or the easier left ? 



Finally, too, the sociologist must recall that Progress is no merely 

 popular term; but has had its best meanings and uses clearly 

 defined, since the very foundation of his science. He thus cannot but 

 claim that Comte's lucid exposition of "Order and Progress" — with 

 "Order the basis. Progress the aim"- — was critically reached and 

 soundly explained; and ethically too; for his full formulation 

 includes between its Order and Progress clauses: "Love the 

 principle". 



Summary. — It is now full time for summary of this whole present 



