Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 1.djvu/361

Rh which determine the genesis, the nature and the functions of law would be vicious. And this is the important, though old, problem of the philosophy of law. Ratto has recently written a work entitled Sociologia e Filosofia del diritto, but this writer, who does not fail to display much critical acumen, withdraws himself completely from the tendencies of Vanni and Anzilotti. Ratto would have a juridical sociology, just as there is already a criminal sociology, and he would have, also, an economic sociology, etc. In short, by his theory, we reach a denial of sociology.

According to these authors sociology transforms itself into a simple method applicable to the sciences already existing. The words of Ferri, already quoted, reflect very well this false conception. John Stuart Mill has called the word "sociology" a convenient barbarism, but according to this conception it becomes a useless barbarism. This view of sociology is held, however, by Vadata-Papale and by Colajanni.

Prof. Arturaro, of the University of Genoa, has published a valuable work entitled la Sociologia e le Scienze Sociale. It is a brilliant work, but Arturaro is a professor of philosophy, and for this reason is led to conceive the new science in a manner too abstract. In many respects a follower of Comte, he, too, winds up by affirming the absorption of the special social sciences into sociology. In this sense Sergi, Morselli and some others in Italy are also followers of Comte.

Another writer well known in the field of sociological studies is Angelo Majorana. He has published various works on sociological subjects, and even a volume on "The First Principles of Sociology." Majorana, in regard to the relation between sociology and the special social sciences, accepts the system of Mill, and in regard to the ethico-juridical system he follows in the footsteps of the school of Vico and Romagnosi as modified by the latest advances of science. Almost all Italian sociologists follow this eclectic system, that is, the theories of Vico and of Romagnosi, modified somewhat by the evolutionism of Spencer, and by the theories of Gehring, etc. On the other hand, M. A. Vaccaro may be called a true follower of Gumplowicz, whose theories are followed to some extent by Morasso, known for the