XV1 
PREFACE 
fragmentary character which puts great obstacles in the 
way of a comprehensive treatment. To overcome these dif- 
Geulties, his differentiated analytical contributions have 
been integrated on the basis of his central idea regarding the 
relation of philosophic inquiry to exact science. According 
to Simmel, each exact science is flanked by two fields of 
philosophic inquiry, an epistemology and a metaphysics. 
This idea has been made the guiding principle for the 
organization of the material of this study, and it is for 
that reason that it is divided into three books. It is hoped 
that in this form it will be a unified and comprehensive 
totality, while yet giving Simmel’s own thought with the 
least amount of distortion and interpolation. 
The social sciences have not reached as yet that cos- 
mopolitan nature which is characteristic of the natural 
sciences. Physics and chemistry are international, but the 
social sciences carry a distinct mark of nationality. Amer- 
ican, English, French, German, and Russian sociology, 
each has characteristics of its own. It is therein that they 
show most clearly their limitation and announce to the 
world how far they are removed as yet from that absolute 
scientific objectivity which is the aim of every scientist. 
Only an intensive cross-fertilization of thought can coun- 
teract the dangerous tendency toward national self-suffi- 
ciency and keep open the road toward advancement and 
success. Only an international discussion of fundamental 
presuppositions can give us a common method. 
Should the following study contribute in that direction, 
the labors involved will not have been in vain. 
N. J. S. 
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