These two works are practically one, or rather (b) is an extended appendix to (a). The earlier work has been a stumbling-block to many, first, because its science—including psychology—roused opposition; second, because its philosophy was understood to be materialism, and it was needlessly rough in its references to religion. With all allowances, the work must always occupy a distinguished position in the history of American sociology. Nobody can understand contemporary sociological thought unless he has made himself familiar with the main argument of this work.
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We have thus indicated the necessary preliminaries of study in today's social science. This general survey is necessary if one is to know his bearings, and to choose intelligently a particular department of social science or group of social problems for further study. Each of these has its own methodology and its own literature, to which special reference will be made in subsequent numbers.
