SUMMARIES OF ARTICLES.
Though he considered himself a philosopher, Spencer is remembered primarily as one of the two greatest figures in the development of Sociology. It is difficult to deduce, from his Autobiography, what led him to become interested in the subject, but the idea of writing a book on it grew out of his classification of the sciences. His early interest in political problems was largely practical, but the germs of his later writings are already revealed in the Social Statics. No doubt Comte influenced Spencer, to a far greater extent than the latter would admit, to turn his attention more particularly toward the social sciences. He seemed to have no regular plan in writing and apparently drifted into literary work. The influence of early ill-health is manifest both in his choice of occupation and in his method of procedure. In the Sociology, as everywhere, Spencer's great contribution consisted not so much in new concepts and ideas as in the richness of analysis and synthesis with which he illuminated every idea he touched. His conclusions lack vitality and validity because unenlightened by contemporary history. He clothed ill-adapted generalizations in the raiment of primitive and medieval practices and never thoroughly understood the world in which he lived, much less that which was to come. Although he grew up in the age of industrialism, Spencer failed to see that over-industrialization would lead to foreign exploitation and wars, and remained unfriendly to the necessary expansion of state functions in spite of the growing complexity of modern society. All this was due in part to non-conformist prejudices and county localism as well as to intellectual stubbornness and contempt for the opinions of others.
