Harvard. Principles of Sociology. Enrollment, Readings, Exam Questions. Carver, 1901-1902

 

Thomas Nixon Carver was the second person to teach sociology at Harvard back in the days when sociology was a sub-field of economics. Carver turned out to be sort of a utility-infielder, originally hired as an economic theorist but later tasked with covering sociology, social reform (as in “thou-shalt not interfere…” except for prohibition!), and agricultural economics.

Fun fact: One of Carver’s protégés, Vervon Orval Watts, later worked for the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. Carver’s wing-nut spawn was responsible for considerably less political damage than the much more recent Harvard economics Ph.D. (1986), Peter Navarro. But I digress…

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Sociology à la Carver,
Other Years

Economics 3. Thomas Nixon Carver and William Z. Ripley, 1902
Economics 8. Thomas Nixon Carver, 1917-18.
Economics 8. Thomas Nixon Carver and Carl Smith Joslyn, 1927-28.

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From Carver’s Autobiography

There was no Department of Sociology at Harvard, but Edward Cummings had given a course on principles of sociology in the Department of Economics. Since I had been giving a course in that subject at Oberlin it was suggested that I continue it at Harvard…

   …The course on the principles of sociology developed into a study of the Darwinian theory as applied to social groups. Variation among the forms of social organization and of moral systems, and the selection or survival of those systems and forms that make for group strength, were considered to constitute the method of social evolution.
The Harvard Illustrated, a student publication, at that time [probably some time after 1911 ] conducted a poll of the senior class, asking the students to name the best courses they had taken. For a number of years Professor Palmer’s course in ethics ranked highest. My course on principles of sociology began to climb until it finally achieved first place. Then the poll was discontinued.

Source: Thomas Nixon Carver, Recollections on an Unplanned Life (Los Angeles, 1949), pp. 132, 172.

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Course Announcement

For Undergraduates and Graduates

3. Principles of Sociology. – Theories of Social Progress. Mon., Wed., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Fri., at 1.30. Asst. Professor [Thomas Nixon] CARVER.

Course 3 begins with a study of the structure and development of society as outlined in the writings of Comte and Spencer. This is followed by an analysis of the factors and forces which have produced modifications of the social structure and secured a greater degree of adaptation between man and his physical and social surroundings. The relation of property, the family, the competitive system, religion, and legal control to social well-being and progress are studied with reference to the problem of social improvement. Spencer’s Principles of Sociology, Bagehot’s Physics and Politics, Ward’s Dynamical Sociology, Giddings’ Principles of Sociology, Patten’s Theory of Social Forces, and Kidd’s Social Evolution are each read in part. Lectures are given at intervals and students are expected to take part in the discussion of the authors read and the lectures delivered.

Course 3 is open to students who have passed satisfactorily in Course 1

Source: Harvard University Archives. Annual Announcement of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Division of History and Political Science comprising the Departments of History and Government and Economics (June 21, 1901).  Official Register of Harvard University 1901-1902. Box 1. Bound volume: Univ. Pub. N.S. 16. History, etc. p. 37.

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Course Enrollment

For Undergraduates and Graduates:—

[Economics] 3. Asst. Professor Carver. — The Principles of Sociology. Theories of Social Progress.

Total 53: 5 Graduates, 17 Seniors, 17 Juniors, 10 Sophomores, 4 Others.

Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College, 1901-1902, p. 77.

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ECONOMICS 3
Topics and references. Starred references are prescribed.

I. SCOPE AND METHOD OF SOCIOLOGY

1. August Comte. Positive Philosophy. Book VI. Chs. 2-4.
2. Herbert Spencer. Classification of the Sciences, in Essays: Scientific, Political, and Speculative. Vol. II.
3. *Herbert Spencer. The Study of Sociology. Chs. 1-3.
4. *Herbert Spencer. Principles of Sociology. Pt. I. Ch. 27. Pt. II.
5. J. S. Mill. System of Logic. Book VI.
6. W. S. Jevons. Principles of Science. Ch. 31. Sec. 11.
7. Lester F. Ward. Outlines of Sociology. Pt. I.
8. *F. H. Giddings. Principles of Sociology. Book I.
9. J. W. H. Stuckenberg. Introduction to the Study of Sociology. Chs. 2 and 3.
10. Émile Durkheim. Les Regles de la Méthode Sociologique.
11. Guillaume de Greef. Les Lois Sociologiques.
12. Arthur Fairbanks. Introduction to Sociology. Introduction. 

II. THE FACTORS OF SOCIAL PROGRESS

A. Physical and Biological Factors

1. Herbert Spencer. The Factors of Organic Evolution, in Essays: Scientific, Political, and Speculative. Vol. I.
2. *Herbert Spencer. Principles of Sociology.  Pt. I. Chs. 1-5.
3. Herbert Spencer. Progress, its Law and Cause, in Essays: Scientific, Political, and Speculative. Vol. I.
4. Auguste Comte. Positive Philosophy. Book VI. Ch. 6.
5. Lester F. Ward. Dynamical Sociology. Ch. 7.
6. *Simon N. Patten. The Theory of Social Forces. Ch. 1.
7. *Walter Bagehot. Physics and Politics. Chs. 1 and 2.
8. Geddes and Thompson. The Evolution of Sex. Chs. 1, 2, 19, 21.
9. *Benjamin Kidd. Social Evolution.
10. Robert Mackintosh. From Comte to Benjamin Kidd.
11. G. de LaPouge. Les Sélections Sociales. Chs. 1-6.
12. August Weismann. The Germ Plasm: a Theory of Heredity.
13. George John Romanes. An Examination of Weismannism.
14. Alfred Russell Wallace. Studies: Scientific and Social.
15. R. L. Dugdale. The Jukes.
16. Oscar C. McCulloh. The Tribe of Ishmael.
17. Francis Galton. Hereditary Genius.
18. *F. H. Giddings. Principles of Sociology. Book II. Ch. I. Book III. Ch. 1.
19. Arthur Fairbanks. Introduction to Sociology. Pt. III. 

B. Psychic

1. Auguste Comte. Positive Philosophy. Book VI. Ch. 5.
2. *Jeremy Bentham. Principles of Morals and Legislation. Chs. 1 and 2.
3. Lester F. Ward. The Psychic Factors of Civilization.
4. G. Tarde. Social Laws.
5. _______. Les Lois de l’Imitation.
6. _______. La Logique Sociale.
7. Gustav Le Bon. The Crowd.
8. _______. The Psychology of Peoples.
9. J. Mark Baldwin. Social and Ethical Interpretations.
10. _______. Mental Development in the Child and the Race.
11. John Fisk. The Destiny of Man.
12. Henry Drummond. The Ascent of Man.
13. *Herbert Spencer. Principles of Sociology. Pt. I. Chs. 6-26.
14. *Simon N. Patten. The Theory of Social Forces. Chs. 2-5.
15. *F. H. Giddings. Principles of Sociology. Book II. Ch. 2. 

C. Social and Economic

1. *Herbert Spencer. Principles of Sociology. Pts. III, IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII.
2. Lester F. Ward. Outlines of Sociology. Pt. II.
3. *_______. Dynamical Sociology. Ch. 10.
4. *Walter Bagehot. Physics and Politics. Chs. 3-6.
5. Brooks Adams. The Law of Civilization and Decay.
6. D. G. Ritchie. Darwinism and Politics.
7. *A. G. Warner. American Charities. Pt. I. Ch. 5.
8. G. de LaPouge. Les Sélections Sociales. Chs. 7-15.
9. T. R. Malthus. Principle of Population.
10. H. Bosanquet. The Standard of Life.
11. F.W. Saunders. The Standard of Living in its Relation to Economic Theory.
12. W. H. Mallock. Aristocracy and Evolution.
13. T. V. Veblen. The Theory of the Leisure Class.
14. W. S. Jevons. Methods of Social Reform.
15. Jane Addams and Others. Philanthropy and Social Progress.
16. E. Demolins. Anglo-Saxon Superiority.
17. *F. H. Giddings. Principles of Sociology. Book II. Chs. 3-4. Book III. Chs. 2-4. Book IV.
18. Thomas H. Huxley. Evolution and Ethics.
19. Georg Simmel. Ueber Sociale Differencierung.
20. Émile Durkheim. De la Division du Travail Social.
21. J. H. W. Stuckenberg. Introduction to the Study of Sociology. Ch. 6.
22. Achille Loria. The Economic Foundations of Society.
23. _______. Problems Sociaux Contemporains. Ch. 6.
24. E. A. Ross. Social Control.

D. Political and Legal

1. Jeremy Bentham. Principles of Morals and Legislation. Chs. 12-17.
2. F. M. Taylor. The Right of the State to Be.
3. *W. W. Willoughby. Social Justice. Chs. 5-9.
4. D. G. Ritchie. Principles of State Interference.
5. W. S. Jevons. The State in Relation to Labor.
6. Henry C. Adams. The Relation of the State to Industrial Action, in Publications Am. Econ. Assoc. Vol. I. No. 6.

Source:  Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003.Box 1, Folder “Economics, 1901-1902”.

Cf. The course material for the following academic year.

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Mid-year Examination, 1902
ECONOMICS 3

Write out the following topics

1. Is society an organism?
2. The relationship among the principal classes of institutions, according to Spencer.
3. Adaptation as a test of progress.
4. Antagonism of interests as a basis for social development.
5. Vice as a factor in human selection.
6. The function of pleasure and pain.
7. The influence of density of population upon social development.
8. The traits of the militant type of society.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University Mid-year Examinations, 1852-1943. Box 6, Bound volume: Examination Papers, Mid-Years, 1901-02.

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Final Examination, 1902
ECONOMICS 3

Discuss the following topics

1. Active and passive adaptation.
2. Charity as a factor in human selection.
3. The sanctions for conduct.
4. Social stratification.
5. Kidd’s theory of the function of religion in human evolution.
6. Gidding’s theory of “consciousness of kind,” and its relation to sympathy and imitation.
7. The storing of social energy.
8. Tarde’s and Durkheim’s ideas of sociology.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University, Examination Papers, 1873-1915. Box 6, Bound volume: Examination Papers, 1902-03. Papers Set for Final Examinations in History, Government, Economics, Philosophy, Education, Fine Arts, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Music in Harvard College (June, 1902), p. 22.

Image Source: “Thomas Nixon Carver, 1865-1961” link at the History of Economic Thought Website. “Portrait of Carver (as a young man)“.

Detail in the Oberlin College Yearbook 1901 Hi-o-hi (no. 16)