Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/689

 SOCIOLOGY AND THE STATE 675

a pseudo-science. This, as we have seen, is of little consequence. Sociology has much more serious obstacles to overcome. It would be strange if among the hundreds of writers who have been attracted to this field there should not be some who would say foolish things. There is, for example, quite a large school of sociologists, who, though claiming to be such, are virtually denying that sociology is a science. Anyone who denies the existence of efficient causes in society does this. It does not mend matters to say that society is a domain of final causes. Final causes are nothing but the appropriation of efficient causes by intelligent beings.^ Of course sociology employs telic meth- ods, and so does every other science. They are the only methods of which the intellect is capable. The higher mind works through final causes only. Telic is synonymous with intellectual. But in sociology as in all other true sciences, the mind deals with real things — the properties of matter and the forces of nature. Psychic forces are as real and natural as physical forces. In society psychic forces become social forces, and they are the true causes of all social phenomena. The virtual denial of this truth on the part of persons classed as sociologists, is doing sociology far more harm than all that the enemies of the science can do it. Several European sociologists must be so classed, as Ludwig Stein, Draghicesco, and Rivera. Nor are they wanting in America; at least passages may be cited to that effect, for ex- ample, by Dr. Small,^ Professor Ellwood,"^ and Professor -Hayes.® If the sociologists themselves admit that sociology is a pseudo- science how can we expect the enemies of sociology to see it in any better light?

I do not propose here to repeat any of my own proofs of the strictly scientific character of sociology when properly under- stood. My entire contribution to the subject consists essentially in heaping up these proofs. But I take pleasure in referring to Professor Giddings's papers on "Social Causation," as showing


 * Pure Sociology, chap. xvi.


 * Am. Joum. Social., VoL V, pp. 811, 812.
 * Ibid., Vol. XIII, pp. 341 ff.

•Ibid., Vol. XI, p. 633; XII, pp. 6S4, 834.