Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/684

 670 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

shown that this standard is determined partly by the necessities for food, clothing, and shelter and partly by the ideals, that is the traditions, beliefs, education, and ambitions of the families. These latter things are chiefly the psychic factors, but when the income is small these ideals are not able to find much expression in the standard of living that the class maintains. My question is not whether the psychic factors are more important than the economical factors in determining the standard of living, but whether the standard of living can be accounted for only in terms of psychic forces. It seems to me that such a thing as a standard of living for a class ?s determined chiefly by the economical and psychic factors together with per- haps several others as physical environment, etc.

Dr. Rudolph M. Binder, New York University

There are two classes of students in sociology — those who intend to devote two or three years to this subject, and may wish to specialize in it; and those who can give it but little time in one year. The former need and should receive as strict a scientific training as sociology is able to gfive. The latter — and their number is legion — need inspiration, contact with living problems and reform movements. In their case strict scientific methods are not applicable, and a general acquaintance with sociological principles is all that can be required. This class of students should never- theless be encouraged, both because they will make better workers in their own fields through this elementary knowledge of sociology, and because some at least will find this study sufficiently profitable to pursue it farther.

Professor Carl Kelsey, The University of Pennsylvania

I am tremendously interested in the general trend of thought evidenced by the papers read this morning. It seems to me that we have spent alto- gether too much time in trying to justify our own existence and in mark- ing out division lines between the older subjects and our own. The field of human knowledge is, after all, one and the different sciences represent but different viewpoints from which the field is studied. I believe that the future of sociological teaching is bright if we can restrict ourselves to the study of concrete problems, problems not in the sense of pathology alone but with clear recognition that all social phenomena, whether of advance or decay, involve problems. It is our business to study these and I can only hope that in our presentation to the classes we may in some measure adopt the magnificent and tremendous logic which characterizes the work of our honored Nestor, Professor Ward.