Royal Patrons of ScienceSource: The Scientific Monthly, Vol. 53, No. 5 (Nov., 1941), p. 453Published by: American Association for the Advancement of ScienceStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/17544 .

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SOCIOLOGY AND THE OTHER SCIENCES 453

institutionalized structure of science. In rare instances, we may find a great empirical researcher who also is a great theoretician, a Darwin, a Newton or possibly a Pasteur, but more frequently these specialized functions are not found in the same man. Maxwell, Einstein, Comte, Spencer, Ward, etc., were not particularly noted for empirical re- search.

There is grave need for this new type of social theorists. Such persons prob- ably are partly born and partly made, but we have paid little attention either to finding or training them. The grad- uate students who specialize in "social theory" are still la:rgely taught the his- tory and exegesis of- what is euphemisti- cally called the sociological literature. Every department that trains many graduate students o]r does much research, and every large research project funded by foundations or government agencies, should employ one or more social theo- rists such as I have described. They should be especially valuable in the train-

ing of students, in the prelinminary analysis of research about to be under- taken, and in the preparation of final reports.

Probably there is not a dozen such social theorists in the entire United States; certainly, not enough to staff the research and teaching we are doing. Most of our so-called social theorists have not yet accepted the simple proposition that social phenomena are naturaL phe- nomena and sociology is a natural science. If they have accepted it ver- bally, they have not realized its logical and research implications. Conse- quently, they still are wandering in the ancient wilderness of fuzzy words. Many empirical research men have ac- cepted and are practicing this simple proposition-and they are producing scientific results. When the tradition of sociology as natural science is old eniough and its cumulative scientific results are great enough, doubtless the Newtons, Daltons, Maxwells and Einsteins of sociology will appear.

ROYAL PATRONS OF SCIENC:E WITH the death of Ex-Kaiser Wilhelm II of

Germany at Doorn in Eolland, at the ripe old age of 82, a notable personality disappears from the arena of contemporary history. He will be viewed in various colors by posterity, but science wiil remember him. as the main initiator and founder of the group of scientific research insti- tutions in Germany known after his name. An account of the activities of these research insti- tutes will be found in Science and Culture, Vol. 1, pp. 161, 175 and, 332, 1935-36. These insti- tutes were founded some. time before the World War of 1914 and have been responsible for such epoch-making research works as the Haber proe- ess for synthesis of amnmonia, production of synthetic rubber, new alloys, liquid fuel out of coal and lignite, ete. The Kaiser took personal interest in the foundation of these institutes, and secured funds from the state and industries.

In spite of the revolution of 1918, which over- threw the monarchy, the institutes rightly con- tinued to be called after him. The Kaiser prob- ably imbibed his appreciation of. the importance of science to national life from his maternal grandfather, Prince-consort Albert, husband of Empress Victoria. The Prince was mainly re- sponsible for encouragement of science in En- gland about 1850. It was through his endeavors that the International Exhibition of 1851 was held at the Crystal Palace and the Victoria and Albert Scientific Museum was founded at South Kensington, and steps were also taken for the foundation of the Royal College of Scieiiee in London. The Prince was not much liked during his life time, but his services to England are being appreciated more and more as England is awakening to the importance of science in modern life.-Science and Culture, July, 1941.

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