816 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



This academic discussion over method is tiresome and futile. 

 Neither method will ever drive the other from the field. The exclu- 

 sive employment of either deduction or induction will yield only 

 half results in the social sciences. The two methods effectually sup- 

 plement each other and should be used together. They are not rivals, 

 but allies. Induction without deduction is blind; deduction with- 

 out induction untrustworthy. This fact is recognized by recent 

 writers on sociology. So Professor Giddings remarks that " history 

 without deductive illumination is chaos. Deduction without veri- 

 fication is undoubtedly the very light that never was on sea or land ! " 



The principal method in the social sciences must undoubtedly be 

 the inductive. The nature of the subject-matter determines this. 

 The social sciences deal with the facts of social structure and growth. 

 The task of the investigator is the explanation of these facts. He 

 has first, then, to observe and compare the facts. But his observation 

 must be guided and his conclusions verified by deduction. 



Concerning the purpose of sociology, as touching its method, there 

 are two conflicting opinions. But here again the seeming disagree- 

 ment is not absolutely irreconcilable. It is held by some that the 

 purpose of the sociologist should be merely the acquisition of knowl- 

 edge, without further thought of the practical use to which the re- 

 sults of his researches might be put. He should aim to discover and 

 formulate the laws of social forces, not to propose ideals of social 

 reform. Sociology is a pure science and has no utilitarian end. By 

 others it is held that the purpose of the sociologist should be the 

 regulation of social forces in the interest of human progress. The 

 object of sociology is the betterment of society, the acceleration social 

 evolution. It is an applied science and has a practical end. 



Both these views are tenable. In fact, sociology, like all sciences, 

 has a double purpose. The primary purpose is to acquire knowledge ; 

 the secondary purpose is to apply that knowledge to the attainment of 

 practical ends. This duality of purpose is clearly set forth by Mr. 

 Lester F. "Ward in a recent essay.* " Sociology," he says, " has both 

 a pure and an applied stage." It "should be studied first for the sake 

 of information relating to the laws of human association and co- 

 operative action, and finally for the purpose of determining in what 

 ways and to what extent social phenomena may, with a knowledge of 

 their laws, be modified and directed toward social ideals." 



Modern society is a complex of difficult problems. And this fact 

 furnishes a background of motive for the studies of the sociologist. 

 Not even the veriest stickler for pure science can deny the imperative 

 need of established knowledge of the laws of social activity. The 



* Lester F. Ward. Purpose of Sociology. American Journal of Sociology, November, 

 1896. 



