Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/494

 480 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

and the business managers or entrepreneurs; and the "social ques- tion " involved in their conduct, their example, their expenditure, their morals, their social use and culture, is quite as vital as that involved in the study of the industrials or the criminals. Pro- fessor Veblen's Theory of the Leisure Classes and Charles Dudley Warner's Little Journey in the World may make this clear to anyone whose eyes are not dazzled by the glitter of diamonds.

VII. METHODOLOGY OF SPECIAL "PROBLEMS" IN SOCIAL TECH- NOLOGY NEW AND UNSOLVED QUESTIONS.

Life makes problems of the most difficult and pressing kind' There is no end of subjects for doctor's theses in our field, and we are not driven to set tasks whose issues are in vacuity. In every community, however small, the people feel the weight of uncertainty and grope for the light. Not seldom they turn to the university for help. Tolstoi's wandering criticisms may be fanatical, but he is not entirely unjust in asking whether the social sciences may not be made to contribute more directly and consciously to the betterment of man's estate.

Public interest, as indicated by the headlines of newspapers, is usually concentrated on very few "paramount issues" at a time, and moves rhythmically back and forth from one to another. Now it is an outburst of burglary and holdups at the onset of frosty weather ; now an election, a lynching, a crash in the market, a battle, a tornado. At such a moment the study of a lifetime is in demand to still the feverish curiosity of an hour.

There are topics which become acutely interesting to the public at frequent intervals, and which take almost complete possession of many persons all their lives. This is true, for example, of the labor question, temperance reform, relief of the poor, criminal treatment, currency, and education.

Social technology can render its best service by dealing with genuine social problems in vital connection with a body of knowledge and a system of principles. The statement, loca- tion, and analysis of a situation are made comprehensive, and the facts which are essential for a judgment are arrayed in an intelligible form for the use of administrators, voters, and