Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 10.djvu/109

 THE FOUNDERS OF SOCIOLOGY 97

eminent geologist has declared that, notwithstanding the lifelong efforts of a scientifically trained mind, he has never been able to free himself from a feeling of abject shame, when, returning to town from a 'geological excursion in muddy boots and dusty gar- ments, he meets an acquaintance in the streets. It belongs perhaps to the same class of phenomena, the observation of Emerson, that the consciousness of being well dressed gives more satisfaction to a woman than all the comforts of religion.

Now, without laying any stress on the last illustration lest it should turn out to apply only to American women we cannot fail to observe in all these cases an antagonism between the uncon- scious and the conscious life, between instinct and reason. The instinct dictates a form of feeling and conduct in apparent con- formity to a different state of society and social usage from that envisaged by the reason. How far can we further define the con- ditions and circumstances of this antagonism? How far can we trace its origin and growth, how work toward its reconciliation? These are some of the questions which, more or less vaguely, the mere experience of the antagonism tends to evoke. The mere rising of the questions into consciousness, however dimly and indefinitely, marks the sociologist. It is unfortunately true that very few people give any precise formulation to these inquisitive promptings, and still fewer make any persistent effort to arrive at even approximately satisfactory answers. But how far is that due to the stupefying circumstances with which an ill-organized society dulls the natural and legitimate curiosity of the child? How far to the absence of adequate educational means for guiding and developing that curiosity, and awakening the growing mind to the great issues of life?

In accounting for the fact that so many people are sociologists spoiled in the making, we have to take account both of the forces that actively make for degeneration, and of the ineffectiveness of forces that are supposed to guide and stimulate development.

In innumerable ways, everyone is, in the daily routine of life, inevitably led up to the consideration of sociological problems. Who, for instance, is so busy as never to yield a passing thought to the causes and the consequences of the ways of spending