Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/566

 S46 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

Rather than leave that impression, exclude "sociology " from under- graduate curricula altogether. Students will get a more sane view of human relationships as a whole from wise instruction in the special social sciences than from unauthorized generalization under the title of sociology.

In other words, the book contains nothing which deserves to be accepted as established truth, that might not be better presented to undergraduates in courses upon the special branch of social science to which it primarily belongs. The book contains, and is controlled by, a speculative element which would make it more difficult than ever for the rest of the college course to develop power of cor- relating truth in a consistent and balanced system corresponding with reality. There is no sociology yet which can speak with authority upon the whole range of subjects that the book covers. It is vastly better for undergraduates to study where the ground is more secure, than to learn a system of doctrine about so many things that nobody knows. Some parts of sociology may be taught to undergraduates in such a way as to reinforce and be reinforced by everything else taught in college. The subject ought never to be introduced in col- leges if it must be presented as ideology, not coherent with knowledge ascertained by other branches of research.

It would obviously be unfair to require of a text-book the proofs and the elaborations that would be demanded in a complete treatise. The remarks that follow have reference less to the elementary form of the theory and method than to the more complete system which this form necessarily suggests to Professor Giddings' fellow-workers.

The table of contents indicates Professor Giddings' view of the scope of sociology more conclusively than any formula could define it. The titles of chapters are as follows : I, " Population and Society; " II "Where Aggregations of People are Formed;" III, "How Aggre- o-ations of People are Formed;" IV, "The Composition and the Unity of a Social Population ; " V, " The Practical Activities of Socii ; " VI "Socialization ;" VII, " Cooperation ;" VIII, "Social Pleasure;" ix', "The Social Nature;" X, "The Classes of Socii;" XI, "The Preeminent Social Class;" XII, "The Social Mind: Modes of Like- mindedness;" XIII, "Sympathetic Like-mindedness and Impulsive Social Actions;" XIV, "Formal Like-mindedness: Tradition and Conformity ;" XV, "Rational Like-mindedness: Public Opinion and Social Values;" XVI, "Social Organization;" XVII, "Component Societies;" XVIII, "Constituent Societies;" XIX, "The Character