PREFACE 
ment of biology, society was discovered to be an organism. 
After the growth of economics, society was discovered to 
be a system of production and distribution. After new 
developments in psychology, society was discovered to be 
imitation. These philosophical and semiphilosophical in- 
terpretations have a value in and for themselves, but they 
do not provide the type of knowledge on which any re- 
building of the social structure can be based. 
There is also in most social scientists a suppressed de- 
sire to become social reformers and saviors of their fellow- 
men. A deep-felt sympathy with suffering humanity, a 
chivalrous tendency to take the side of the “under dog,” and 
an impatient desire to improve conditions quickly appar- 
ently give them a “will to believe” in remedies which 
resemble too much our patent medicines to inspire com- 
plete confidence. 
According to the physical anthropologist, we must save 
Western civilization by keeping the race pure. The special- 
ist in eugenics tells us to save society by scientific breeding. 
The psychologist who specializes in mental tests urges us 
to put the high “I.Q.’s” in the high places. The economist 
advocates a new system of production and distribution. 
The political scientist tells us that the fundamental trouble 
lies in our political system, that we need more democracy 
or less democracy. The lawyers tell us that we need more 
and better laws, and the students of religion inform us that 
we need more religion. These men are earnest, well-mean- 
ing human beings, scholars offering us suggestions which 
are based on years of learning and devoted study. The 
results would be humorous beyond all measure were it not 
that they throw a light on the very sad conditions existing 
in the social sciences. 
This tendency to philosophic interpretation and this 
vill to believe in simple remedies spring from our funda-