Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/853

 STUDY OF MAN.

ANYONE would suppose that the study of man, especially during childhood and youth, would be the most practical and necessary of all lines of inquiry. But, as a matter of fact, it is the most neglected of all studies. There are sciences of geology, botany, and zoology, but a science of living man as he is today does not exist. It is comparatively easy to arouse interest in expeditions to the north pole or into darkest Africa ; to engender enthusiasm in investigation of sun, moon, and stars ; but it is very difficult to direct attention to the study of modern civilized man. Millions are given yearly for the study of rocks, plants, and animals, but almost nothing for the study of children. What could be more practical than investigations of human beings from childhood through youth to manhood ? While facts in nature are very interesting and, no doubt, of importance, they cannot have the direct practical value which facts about man himself possess.

Why is it that there is so little definite knowledge about modern man ? It is mainly because he has been studied so little. The first case in the history of this world of a thorough scientific study of a human being is that made on Zola 1 in 1897 by a number of French specialists. Such a statement as this may seem hazardous, but it is literally true.

METHODS OF INVESTIGATION.

Man has been studied in a statistical way as to his acts and thoughts in the past ; but this method is necessarily inexact and uncertain, because the events are so far removed in time. It is not only difficult to understand the past in which we did not live, but also to distinguish between facts, inferences, and opinions as recorded by writers, who often had some special point of view and omitted important data. For this reason alone a science of history may be impossible.

1 Results are given in article on Zola (by writer), reprint, 1901.

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