European and American Sociology: Some Comparisons

Abstract

THE most complete internationalism so far achieved by mankind is the internationalism of knowledge. Nations may differ widely on questions of religion, trade, and politics; their interests may clash over colonies, territories, boundaries, and markets; their opinions may diverge on policies of migrations and tariffs; but when it comes to developments in science, the emergence of theories of philosophy, or the enrichments of literature and the arts, the possessions of one nation quickly become the possessions of all. Sociology, like other sciences, is neither the creation of a single people nor is it anyone's exclusive domain. The students of sociology of every country are alike indebted to Durkheim, Weber, Hobhouse, Kropotkin, Pareto, Ward, and many others for a body of materials and theory that tend with the passing of years to become merged into a single and more or less unified whole from which the individualistic claim of any one man or country is gradually erased. The writings of each are available to all; that which is found to be valid is accepted, and the invalid rejected, regardless of the birthplace of its originator. When international conferences are held on questions of politics, disarmaments, economic adjustments and the like, it is difficult for the ambassadors of the various states to divest themselves of their representative character. Each is biased by his particular political interest and tends to become a special pleader for his own country's point of view or objective. But when there is a national conference of philosophers or scientists, they tend to stand committed, not to special interests, but to the advancement of knowledge as whole. Science knows no political boundaries, and knowledge is as universal as the area of intercommunication of intelligent and educated minds. This is not to say there are no differences among sciences of various lands; but those differences are of emphases, and of methods of approach to a common task, rather than appeals of vested interest. Where opinions clash, it is due to a difference of judgments as to the soundness and truth of the positions which are advanced, and not to a feeling that particular national rights are being invaded. This article is intended to deal with some contrasting phases of sociology as it is developed today in Europe and United States. If its title seems to imply that Europe is a homogeneous whole with re-