Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/34

 FOUR SYNTHESISTS: CROSS-SECTIONS FROM COMTE, SPENCER, LILIENFELD, AND SCHAEFFLE.

ALTHOUGH differences of opinion prevail with respect to the exact content of the study of sociology, for present purposes it may be assumed that there exists a group of writers whose works may appropriately be characterized as synthetic. In this group the names of Comte, Spencer, Lilienfeld, and Schaeffle take high rank. It is the writer's purpose to present in this paper, in a condensed way, a comparative study of a few of the salient fea- tures of the sociological works of the authors mentioned. The grouping under the various heads noted below may be some- what arbitrary ; yet on the whole it is believed this method of treatment will add to the clearness of the discussion.

i. The scope and method of sociology. In his inaugural address as rector of the university of Berlin, Professor Schmoller spoke words to the effect that we may rationally discuss questions relat- ing to the nucleus of the special social sciences ; but that no disputes can profitably be entered into with respect to the peri- phery of these sciences. In other words, the workers in all the different fields of social study draw their material from the same source man; like so many frogs sitting about the same pond, they all delve into the same medium when they are in search of material. Following the advice of Schmoller, no discussion in regard to the definite boundary lines of sociology will be entered into in this place. It is well known that Comte believed it was necessary to combine the special social sciences in order to form the science of sociology. In common with all philosophical study, this latter science might embrace either the field of specu- lation or of action. It is the former which Comte makes it his duty to study. In Spencer a variety of definitions of sociology can be found. Primarily the sociologist must grasp the vast heterogeneous aggregate of phenomena relating to the associated life of man. He must take an account of the combined action of his physical, emotional, and intellectual traits ; he must study