Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/490

 47 6 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

The rural community has characteristics which mark it off quite clearly from other forms of association, making all proper allowance for differences in locality and fluctuations and develop- mental changes. It is relatively homogeneous ; each person has a name and a reputation ; industry is not highly specialized ; education is elementary; the number of impressions and ideas is limited. 1

In relation to the rural community we may claim that there is a body of experts, and that there is material for a branch of social technology which shall present a system of regulative principles of conduct. In dim and shadowy outlines the rural pastors, teachers, parents, physicians, and local "authorities" have a set of "ethical " maxims which are enforced by stinging criticism, praise and blame, law and constabulary, sermons and church discipline. In isolated sections of knowledge we have some fragmentary basis for this ethical code in the knowledge of physicians, professors in agricultural colleges, agronomes in universities, great organizers of markets ; but nowhere, as yet, anything approaching a social technology of the subject, a " rural sociology." We have powerful and learned works on Agrarwesen and Agrarpolitik, which on examination reveal a reli- able and indispensable mastery of economico-political relations of rural populations, but furnish little help as to the social organi- zation to secure the ultimate, highest, and essentially human goods of being. When men of science once apprehend the vast- ness of this neglected field, they will bring to it the same acumen, patience, and method which have won worthy triumphs in the production of wealth. Granting that the economic basis must first be laid firmly, may we not now insist that a part of scientific labor be drafted off into other fields of research ? We actually have more and better books on breeding cattle and marketing corn than on forming citizens and organizing culture. Is it not worth while to attempt a social technology of the rural com- munity? And would not even a failure in the attempt be worthy of respect ?

The third example chosen is another " component society,"

1 See S. M. PATTEN, Theory of Social Forces.