Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/107

Rh powerful than the primary appetite, is infinitely more complex and subtle, and hence becomes a much more difficult agent for the sociologist to handle. Philosophers have therefore fought shy of it and abandoned it to the poets and romance writers. This field is therefore almost wholly new to science, and anyone who attempts to enters it from the scientific point of view is sure to be looked upon with suspicion. He will usually be regarded not only as having departed from the scientific method but as displaying a diseased mind. But this is not necessary. It is possible to deal with this subtle force in a scientific way. In fact, sociologists must do this or leave out of view one of the leading factors of the science. This transformed and transfigured agency in advanced societies must be recognized and appreciated at its full value. For the sociologist love is not a sentiment in the popular sense; it is a principle. It is the second, if it is not the first, of the great powers that propel the social machinery.

Forces of Race Elevation.—The two classes of forces thus far considered are absolutely essential to life. Failure either to preserve the individual or to continue the race would equally bring society to an end. Man's mental or spiritual wants are not thus imperative. From the standpoint of function the forces of race elevation are not essential. But from the present standpoint, viz., that of feeling, and also at the same time that of social advantage, they assume an even greater importance. It was shown in the fifth paper that they contribute the larger share of the volume of social good; that while their "necessity" is less their "utility" is greater. The point of view of that paper was that of the individual, but this is equally true from the point of view of this paper, which is that of society. The efforts put forth to secure the higher order of individual good at which they aim result in a correspondingly higher order of social good. The good sought by the lower impulses has for the most part only a statical value. [sic] Although the efforts put forth necessarily, though unconsciously, produce change and progress, still this is small from the very fact that it is unconscious. The higher impulses, on the con-