"In this book I seek to determine how far the order we see all about us is due to influences that reach men and women from without, that is, social influences. I began the work nearly six years ago with the idea that nearly all the goodness and conscientiousness by which a social group is enabled to hold together can be traced to such influences. It seemed to me then that the individual contributed very little to social order, while society contributed almost everything. Further investigation, however, appears to show that the personality freely unfolding under conditions of healthy fellowship may arrive at a goodness all its own, and that order is explained partly by this streak in human nature and partly by influence of social surroundings. As I now conceive it my task is, therefore, first, to separate the individual's contribution to social order from that of society, and, second, to bring to light everything that is contained in his social contribution.
In taking up this work I have had no other thought than to see things as they are and to report what I see. I am not wedded to my hypothesis nor enamoured of my conclusions, and the next comer who, in the true scientific spirit, faces the problems I have faced and gives better answers than I have been able to give, will please me no less than he pleases himself."
Edward Alsworth Ross
March 1901
Edward Alsworth Ross is considered to be one of the most influential pioneers in sociology.
