Page:Philosophical Review Volume 11.djvu/223

207 social facts is not a new one, but earlier attempts to embody this idea have been notably unsuccessful. The excellence of the present volume lies, first, in the fact that it is based on actual inductive work which the author has been carrying on with his students, and secondly, in that the material is presented by one who has thought through the general problems which here are examined from the standpoint of concrete studies.

As compared with the author's earlier volumes, the present work is more limited in its scope. "Studies of the historical evolution of society, and of the deeper problems of causation are not included" (p. x). Problems of social evolution are peculiarly interesting, but undue attention to them has been the bane of this nascent science; they have invited speculation, to the detriment of scientific research; to turn the young student from these questions to matters of fact is certainly a merit of this volume. Aside from this omission, Part I, on " Social Population," is treated on the same lines as in the Principles of Sociology; Part III also contains little material which is not already outlined in the Principles, or in the Elements already published. Part II, on "The Social Mind," deserves the attention of students of philosophy. Here the author does not, it is true, modify essentially his earlier standpoints; he does, however, so elaborate them as to make them clearer and more useful to the student. The doctrine that society is based on similarity, and on the recognition of that similarity, the doctrine of the consciousness of kind, is fundamental in Professor Giddings's studies. For him the consciousness of similarity is the law of gravitation in the social world; if "friendship," to use Plato's phrase, is the result of likeness, then we may follow the author in the superstructure which he rears on this foundation. Perhaps the reader will turn with most interest to the last section, Part IV, on "Social Welfare." In spite of many acute suggestions I find this the least satisfactory part of the book, and here, I believe, more than elsewhere, the system presented in outline in this book will profit by further studies.

The book is just what its title says, a syllabus of methods, classifications, etc. The statements are so brief and formal, that they require such personal directions as the author might give to his students in order to make them effective. Occasionally, the English is a little forced, as when "characterization" is used to mean the formation of character (p. 59), or "practical resemblance" to mean resemblance in mode of action (p. 4). Perhaps such liberty should be allowed, when a new science is in progress of construction.

This work forms the third volume of the English translation of Wundt's