Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 1.djvu/352

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THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY.

today called sociology. In the mind of Adam Smith, also, there appeared a similar idea,[1] although premature death, both in his case and in that of Filangieri, prevented its working out.

We pass now to Ganelli, whom Michelet[2] calls a genuine disciple of Vico. From Ganelli we may go on the one hand to Romagnosi, and on the other to Ferrara, who, although they sometimes criticise the works of their master, are yet for the most part his faithful followers. Meanwhile, Michelet (1824) was spreading a knowledge of the theories of Vico in France, so that even in that country there arose a band of followers of the illustrious Italian, as, for instance, M. Cousin (1831), Ballanche (1830), Geoffroy Teodoro (1831), etc. Even Comte himself had a profound respect for Vico.

Following in the footsteps of Vico, and taking his theories as a basis, there gradually grew up in Italy an ethico-juridical school, with views essentially sociological, which may be called truly national. Vanni has shown the intimate relations between this Italian school and that of Herbert Spencer.[3] His demonstration is acute and learned, even splendid, for Vanni is one of the ablest of Italian sociologists. Meanwhile Emilio Morpurgo, Fedele Lampertico, Giuseppi Carle, Marsh and chiefly Aristide Cabelli, in his work, L'Uomo e le Scienze Morali (1869), just begun with the second half of this century, were writing on sociological questions. They began for the most part by following the example of the school of Vico and Romagnosi, but the studies which were carried on contemporaneously abroad exercised a strong influence upon them. Their works, however, may even yet be called modern.

  1. See Ingram, History of Political Economy, Edinburgh, 1888; Fiamingo, die historischen und die orthodoxen National-Ökonomen in ihrem Verhältniss zur Sociologie, Vienna, 1894; also Antonio Genovesi, the first professor of political economy in Italy. He lived in the last century, taught in the University of Naples and held large and progressive views. His Discorso sopra il fine delle lettere e delle scienze is stamped with large, comprehensive and truly sociological views.
  2. Michelet, Principes de la Philosophie de l'Histoire, Brussels, 1839.
  3. G. Vanni, Il sistema etico-giuridico di Herbert Spencer, City of Castella, 1893.