Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 5.djvu/641

 THE SCOPE OF SOCIOLOGY 625

Up to this point we have practically no controversy with Barth as to the significance of the classifying tendency. It is, however, a mistake to seek in such a writer as De Greef impor- tant contributions to knowledge of the concrete. As in the case of the one-sided views of history, we get some methodological details from inspection of the method of approaching reality represented by De Greef. His classification is in essence a series of theses to be tested. In the classification the elements of social activity are made more distinct than in any previous clas- sification. His claim with reference to the hierarchical order of the phenomena so arranged must stand or fall as a result of specific investigation of the activities and subactivities dis- tinguished in the schedule. Sociological method is changed, however, by this scheme of categories, from a confused dumping together of miscellaneous information, as called for by Spencer's famous catalogue of what history should teach,' to an orderly arrangement of phenomena according to scientific principles of classification. This is not to assert that De Greef's classification is final. It has, however, admirably served the purpose of ten- tative analysis of social activities, while criticism of the char- acteristics of the activities is proceeding.

Barth discusses under the present subtitle Lacombe^ and Wagner. 3 Neither of these writers has added anything of value to the portion of methodology with which we are concerned, and we may allow De Greef to stand as the representative of the classifying tendency.

Recurring to the claim made above,^ and in accordance with our argument upon the different philosophies of history, wc repeat of the different emphases in sociological methodology: each has contributed something to be worked in some way or other into the final sociology. It is not in accordance with the facts to speak of a "classifying sociology." Certain men have won recognition for the fact that classification is a necessary

' The Study of Sociology, Am. ed., Introduction.

' De I'hhtoire considMe comme science, Paris, 1894.

5 Grundlegung der pol. Econ., 3te Auflage, Leipzig, 1892.

<P. 617.