METHOD IN SCIENCE 11 



does refuse, to consider the possibility of social phenomena 

 throwing light upon the problems of heredity mentioned 

 above, and the transmission of acquired or altered char- 

 acteristics. It is now orthodox in biology to adopt a 

 modified Weismannism, and no one would be more dis- 

 inclined to ask whether, in the evolution of societies and 

 their heredity, we can find anything to support or under- 

 mine the germ-plasm theory, than an orthodox believer. 

 Nor would he allow us to ask whether there are sociological 

 phenomena which suggest that altered characteristics can 

 be transmitted. Before answering, or attempting to answer, 

 either question as an example of method, it may be pointed 

 out that, even with the example of J. T. Cunningham's work 

 on hormones before them, most of the unorthodox biolo- 

 gists are almost as neglectful of the help in the elucidation of 

 evolutionary problems given them by physiologists, who 

 have worked on the secretions and catalytic functions 

 of the endocrines, as their orthodox brethren. In speaking 

 thus of the biologist it must not be assumed that he alone 

 is indifferent to other work. The orthodox school of psycho- 

 logists, directly descended from the introspectional philo- 

 sopher and the theologian, are equally opposed to the bio- 

 logical school of sociologists. We can, in fact, find no school 

 without such "idols." In attempting what is, perhaps, 

 the vain attempt of their destruction, the most simple 

 example I can choose to illustrate the method advocated is 

 what I believe to be a real analogy between the problems 

 of heredity in biology and sociology. I may therefore 

 be permitted to use a portion of an unfinished paper on 

 " The Possible Mechanism of Transmission," with a view 

 to demonstrating anew the obvious fact that, since genera] 

 laws do obtain in the universe, their particular application 

 in all cases must have essential points of resemblance. 



