Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 11.djvu/607

 PLACE OF SCIENCE IN MODERN CIVILIZATION 591

the dramatic character of the myths current among these peoples, and they are also aware that, particularly among the peaceable communities, the great body of mythical lore is of an idle kind, as having very little intended bearing on the practical conduct of those who believe in these myth-dramas. The myths on the one hand, and the workday knowledge of uses, materials, appli- ances, and expedients on the other hand, may be nearly independ- ent of one another. Such is the case in an especial degree among those peoples who are prevailingly of a peaceable habit of life, among whom the myths have not in any great measure been canonized into precedents of divine malevolence.

The lower barbarian's knowledge of the phenomena of nature, in so far as they are made the subject of deliberate speculation and are organized into a consistent body, is of the nature of life- histories. This body of knowledge is in the main organized under the guidance of an idle curiosity. In so far as it is sys- tematized under the canons of curiosity rather than of expediency, the test of truth applied throughout this body of barbarian knowl- edge is the test of dramatic consistency. In addition to their dramatic cosmology and folk legends, it is needless to say, these peoples have also a considerable body of worldly wisdom in a more or less systematic form. In this the test of validity is use- fulness. 4

The pragmatic knowledge of the early days differs scarcely at all in character from that of the maturest phases of culture. Its highest achievements in the direction of systematic formulation consist of didactic exhortations to thrift, prudence, equanimity, and shrewd management a body of maxims of expedient con-

pragmatic school of modern psychologists would commonly assign the term. "Pragmatic," "teleological," and the like terms have been extended to cover imputation of purpose as well as conversion to use. It is not intended to criticise this ambiguous use of terms, nor to correct it ; but the terms are here used only in the latter sense, which alone belongs to them by force of early usage and etymology. "Pragmatic" knowledge, therefore, is such as is designed to serve an expedient end for the knower, and is here contrasted with the imputation of expedient conduct to the facts observed. The reason for pre- serving this distinction is simply the present need of a simple term by which, to mark the distinction between worldly wisdom and idle learning.
 * "Pragmatic" is here used in a more restricted sense than the distinctively