Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 9.djvu/166

 152 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

Of all these different groups of social investigators working outside the conception of a sociological science, it has to be remarked in no disparagement of their work, but as matter of observed fact that they are apt to be deficient in some one or more of the necessary elements of a comprehensive sociological equipment. Those who deny to general social studies a scientific status are customarily specialists lacking in philosophical or broad historical training, and consequently habituated to narrow their range of vision by a too strict confinement within the rigid, yet often arbitrary, boundaries marked off for them by the divi- sion of scientific labor. Those who make some sectional study or groups of studies a point of departure for the pursuit of a general social theory are customarily men of broad mind, but maybe limited in philosophical or historical knowledge; while those who seek a social theory under the title of "social philoso- phy" or "philosophy of history" are apt to be defective in their equipment of exact science. To the last two statements there are, to be sure, notable exceptions in individual cases ; but the broad truth of the description will probably pass without chal- lenge. It remains nevertheless a fact that a steady flow of excellent contributions to sociology comes from each of the foregoing groups, and not the least in either excellence or num- ber from those specialists who repudiate the existence of general studies in social phenomena. In this, in fact, lies the main strength of the sociological position and its fulness of promise for the future that each one of the sciences that directly deal with the phenomena of man is gradually organizing and orienting itself toward a sociological position. The more that process of reorientation can be brought within the conscious and educated intention of the specialist investigator, the more rapid will be the growth of the still nascent science of sociology. On these grounds alone it behooves those interested in the development of sociological studies to organize the alliance and co-operation of all who, under whatever titular mark, pursue studies that touch upon man. To disclose these common truths, to advance these common interests by bringing together representatives of the different groups, is one of the main purposes of the proposed Sociological Society.