266 THE SOCIAL THEORY OF GEORG SIMMEL 
ceptions of the eighteenth. In reality he does not return 
completely, but takes up an intermediate position. This 
partial return is a distinct departure from the mysticism 
that has been rampant in social and political thought in the 
nineteenth century, and is a definite approach toward a 
more scientific view. The great importance of Simmel for 
all social theorists lies in the fact that his methodology ex- 
plodes the last survivals of rationalism, mysticism, and 
anthropomorphism which still cling to our thinking about 
the socio-historical actuality. 
Social philosophy as metaphysics has a great and defi- 
nite function and significance for Simmel, but that function 
is wholly different from that of science. As a forerunner of 
science, it has a value and significance only in relation to 
science; but in neither case can it pretend to be science. 
The differentiation which leads from philosophy to science, 
the approach toward the immediate actuality, should be 
ruthlessly continued until the actual factors and the direct 
primary processes have been discovered. As long as the 
inquiry has not reached that stage, it cannot be called 
scientific, and the investigation which aims at scientific 
knowledge cannot rest. 
Simmel’s criticism of rationalism is most evident in his 
emphasis on the necessity for continuing the historical in- 
vestigation until the non-scientific concept of historical 
law dissolves. It is also apparent in his stress on the need 
for abstaining from speculation about the “social process’ 
and for investigating the minute processes of socialization. 
His contention that the concept of a historical law 
resembles more closely metaphysical speculation than sci- 
entific thought is especially of interest in view of the fact 
that some of his critics have accused him of neglecting the 
historical dimension. This criticism seems hardly justified. 
In his discussions on method Simmel points out that an