Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/676

 '662 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

assume too readily the truth of a materialistic interpretation of social development. Here we maintain the sociologist walks on treacherous ground, for experience shows that there is danger in pressing too far analogies derived from other sciences. Even the sociological use of a vocabulary made up from another science may be misleading, since it is so easy to carry over with a word itself its implications. Rather it may be wiser to seek first to comprehend the full significance of the particular principle or term in its relation to its own science, and then by observation and comparison to see whether a similar principle holds in social life, and in what respect it differs if at all from the kindred principle derived from the earlier science. For example the principle of natural selection and the term "heredity" seem simple enough on their face, yet, in view of the numerous variations in biological explanation of them there would inevitably arise as many confusing variations in interpretation of the term "social selection" or "social heredity," if students felt inclined to press analogies too far. Presumably also an endless confusion might arise if one were to carry over with the term "social mind" all the possibilities inherent in the varying interpretations of the psychological term "mind." While therefore such analogies have their use, and may by chance really throw much light on complex social phenomena, yet the danger of error is large and much of the force of the argument directed against the scientific nature of sociology really is aimed at those who have made hobbies of analogies to the neglect of the more scientific attainment pre- ferred in sociological methodology. On the other hand the real sociological utility of applications of principles derived from the basal sciences may be noted, for example, in the biological contri- bution passing into the new science of eugenics, or as it might better be termed "endemics,"^ supplemented as it must be by social studies of the domestic institutions; or again by noting how psychological principles may be reinterpreted from the socio- logical standpoint, and, by emphasis on newer aspects, give rise thereby to such attractive studies as folk psychology, social psy- chology, and social control, fields of study full of the promise of future usefulness.


 * A term suggested by Librarian H. L. Koopman, Brown University.