Page:Mind (New Series) Volume 9.djvu/72

 58 FERDINAND TONNIES : emphasise on the other hand that in this respect also the conditions of life of the present century are clearly preparing a powerful revolution. Modern Society is stretching its enormous limbs. The social " question " is exciting the heads of politicians and philosophers in all countries. It is concentrating in particular problems which are already recognised as international ; capital and labour, universal monopolies, criminology. The institutions, experiences and studies of particular countries are endeavouring to come to an understanding. With reference to the last-named problem there has been active for nearly ten years the International Criininalistic Union Union Internationale de Droit penal. We have still a word to say about the study of statistics which is so important for all these problems. Statistics is generally regarded as a special science. But what is meant by the name to-day is merely the universally applicable numerical methods, of which the chief object is according to the original meaning of the word Statistics the investigation of the states and changes of the social life ; and for this we may also substitute "empirical social psychology". Its importance, even its necessity, is publicly recognised by all States, and by many communal unions. But notwithstanding and owing to this recognition, under the evil influence of immediate adminis- trative needs, it is even exposed to misdirection for the ends of government and parties. We may compare it with the state of astronomy at the time when great lords built observatories for the purpose of casting the horoscopes of themselves and their wives and children. Deeper interests lay behind, which elevated astronomy above such magic. So there lies also behiitd the perplexities of ministers and magis- trates about "statistical material," the vital interest of modern society, to know itself in order to rule itself. It is striving after harmonising compensation, peace, but it lacks organs ; it needs a ganglion, were it only as a mechanism for checking the folly and lies of passionate wars of interests. Here as everywhere the activity can only form itself from manifold strife, the organic tissue from manifold activities. The striving and activity to form a universal true science put of statistics or social psychology are present and will increase. But suppose that an international bureau was instituted for free scientific statistics, how would this have value and consequences for the philosophical construction of concepts, hence for metaphysic and ontology, as we would understand it ? This is not difficult to see. Statistics can take no step without dissociating old verbal concepts, without