to their times; both sometimes seduced by false analogies, but the one rather through respect to an erroneous philosophy, the other through personal thirst of praise and affectation of originality; both aware that the basis of the philosophy of man is to be laid in the records of his past existence; but the one prone to accumulate historical examples without sufficient discrimination, and to overwhelm, instead of convincing the reader by their redundancy, the other aiming at an induction from select experience, but hence appearing sometimes to reason generally from particular premises, or dazzling the student by a proof that does not satisfy his reason." 46 "Introduction to the Literature of Europe, Vol. II, pp. 165-6. (For a brief summary of the effect of Montesquieu's Philosophy upon the formation of the American Constitution see Thorpe, F. N., Article on Montesquieu, Warner Library of the World's Best Literature, Vol. 26, pp. 10249-55.) BIBLIOGRAPHY Comte, August, Positive Philosophy, translated by Martineau, Blanch- Condorcet, M., A Commentary and Review of Montesquieu's Spirit of Croce, Benedetto, The Philosophy of Giambattista Vico, translated by Dunning, Wm. A., Political Theories, Luther to Montesquieu, Mac- Giddings, F. H., Studies in the Theory of Human Society, Macmillan, Hallam, Henry, Introduction to the Literature of Europe, Murray, Montesquieu, Charles Louis, Baron de, The Spirit of Laws, translated Montesquieu, Charles Louis, Baron de, Persian and Chinese Letters, translated by Davidson, Dunn, London, 1901. Pearson, Karl, The Grammar of Science, Black, London, 1900. Swinny, S. H., Giambattista Vico, The Sociological Review, Vol. VII, Williams, David, Lectures on Political Principles, Bell, London, 1789. 1 TOPICS FOR CRITICAL STUDY I. In the light of our study so far consider carefully Small's statement "that in all probability the sentimental philanthropic impulse has done more than the scientific impulse to bring sociology into existence." General Sociology, Ch. III. Do you draw the same conclusion? 2. What reasons can you give for the fact that Vico's advanced scientific views on social evolution failed to usher in a new era in social science? 3. What is "scientific law" according to Pearson? Cf. Grammar of Science, Ch. III. Compare and contrast this with Montesquieu's definition of "Law." 4. Reread Bodin's interpretation of the influences of physical environment on civilization. Also reëxamine Buckle, History of Civilization in England, Ch. II, and compare these writers with Montesquieu in regard to material, scope and method. 5. Trace the effects of geography and climate upon the rise, spread, and final abolition of slavery in the United States. Cf. E. C. Semple, American History and Its Geographic Conditions, Ch. XIV, also The Influences of Geographic Environment, pp. 618-22. How does this confirm Montesquieu's position in regard to slavery? 6. Make a further study of the effects of climate upon civilization in the light of modern scientific studies. What additional factors are considered? Cf. E. C. Semple, The Influence of Geographic Environment, Ch. XVII, also E. Huntington, The Pulse of Asia and Civilization and Climate. 7. Carry the analysis one step further by studying the effects of weather on human behavior. Cf. E. G. Dexter, Conduct and the Weather, also Huntington's chapter, Work and Weather in Civilization and Climate. 8. For a still more highly specialized study of this subject read C. F. Woodruff, The Effects of Tropical Light on White Men. See especially his comments on the uses of alcohol in the Tropics, pp. 22-3 and 193. How does this differ from Montesquieu ? What criticism does A. J. Todd make of the theory of "Geographic Determinism"? Cf. Theories of Social Progress, Ch. IX. Are his objections valid? Cf. also Ellwood, Theories of 9. Cultural Evolution, American Journal of Sociology, Vol. XXIII, 10. Examine L. F. Ward's criticism that this doctrine while valuable was "carried too far." What other elements does he regard as necessary to true and complete interpretation of society? Cf. Pure Sociology, pp. 58-62. II. Read critically W. A. Dunning's chapter on Montesquieu, especially sections, 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8. Note his comparisons of Montesquieu with other writers and his evaluations of Montesquieu's theories. 12. Study critically A. A. Goldenweiser's criticisms of environmental determinism in connection with Montesquieu's theories. Cf. Early Civilization, Ch. XIV. 13. Additional sources for the study of environmental factors are E. S. Bogardus, History of Social Thought, Ch. XV; A. W. Small, General Sociology, Ch. XXX; E. C. Hayes, Introduction to the Study of Sociology, Ch. III; F. S. Chapin, Social Evolution, Ch. V. CHAPTER X AUGUST COMTE SOCIAL AND SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS NE hundred years elapsed, including the last half of the 18th and the first half of the 19th century, before the work of Montesquieu reached its full fruition,-a century characterized by revolutionary changes in government, in social conditions, and in human thinking. No adequate review of the period can be undertaken. Only a brief reference can be made to a few outstanding factors that conditioned the epoch-making work of August Comte, the founder of the modern science of sociology. The French revolution destroyed the old régime and with it the theory of the Divine Right of Kings, but the social upheaval was greater, even, in magnitude. The whole social fabric was shaken to its foundations. Social and political change, accomplished gradually in England, had been resisted stubbornly in France, but by 1789 there had grown up a sufficient unity and social self-consciousness to create within the social mind the conviction that the survival of feudal traditions and institutions, the product of the method by which the state had been pieced together through conquests and alliances, and which long since had outlived their usefulness, constituted "abuses" which demanded redress. The most serious of these were: the lack of homogeneity in civil rights throughout the realm; the survival of commercial barriers between the provinces; traditional class differences between the nobility and clergy and the third estate; the prerogatives and possessions of the church; the serious inequalities and exemptions of taxation; and above all, the existence of an oppressive and irresponsible government. The violence of the revolution and the reign of terror through which the old régime collapsed, added to the mental and moral confusion which is always the aftermath of war. The French Revolution is unique, however, in the history of wars, for the extent and for the fundamental character of the changes it produced. It closed one age and opened another. It was inevitable that the period of reconstruction should |