In the department of Eu-Politogenics we shall be confronted with the problem of consciously overriding what evolution has unconsciously evolved, and building towards a fairer future.  No doubt much of our creation will be imitation, and Professor Geddes is particularly suggestive in bidding us, at least, to be aware which of the tangled strands of influence we desire to follow; but a measure of artistic free-will remains.  With the development of a corporate conscience we should be able to turn out far more satisfactory shells than many that have blundered into being.  “Garden City” is only a particular application of the science of Civics....

Eu-Politogenics concerns itself, however, with more than the mere configuration of our human shell.  Its colour and the music it holds are considerations no less important.  But they are too important to touch at the fag-end of an article.  Professor Geddes must, however, be congratulated on a stimulating paper, and upon his discovery of Eutopia.  For Eutopia (unlike Utopia, which is really Ou-topia, or no place) is merely your own place perfected.  And the duty of working towards its perfection lies directly upon you.  “Civics—­as applied sociology” comes to show you the way.

CIVICS:  AS CONCRETE AND APPLIED SOCIOLOGY, PART II

BY PROFESSOR GEDDES

Read before the Sociological Society at a Meeting in the School of Economics and Political Science (University of London), Clare Market, W.C., on Monday, January 23rd, 1905, the Rt.  Hon. CHARLES BOOTH, F.R.S., in the Chair.

A—­INTRODUCTION:  THE NEED OF CIVIC SURVEYS

To the previous discussion of this subject[2] the first portion of this present title, “Civics as Concrete Sociology,” would have been more suitable than the second, (that of “Civics as Applied Sociology”) actually used.  For its aim was essentially to plead for the concrete survey and study of cities, their observation and interpretation on lines essentially similar to those of the natural sciences.  Since Comte’s demonstration of the necessity of the preliminary sciences to social studies, and Spencer’s development of this, still more since the evolution theory has become generally recognised, no one disputes the applicability of biology to [Page:  58] sociology.  Many are, indeed, vigorously applying the conceptions of life in evolution, in geographical distribution and environment, in health and disease, to the interpretations of the problems of the times; while with the contemporary rise of eugenics to the first plane of interest, both social and scientific, these lines of thought, bio-social and bio-geographic, must needs be increasingly utilised and developed.

[2] “Sociological Papers,” Vol 1., pp. 103-118.