A History of Social Thought

A History of Social Thought is by Emory S. Bogardus, and it is dedicated to students who are transforming their social thought into helpful living. A chapter on Roman social thought says that Roman social thought is an outgrowth of Hellenic philosophic movements and that Stoicism greatly affected and conditioned the meager social thinking of the Roman scholars. The book says Jesus did not attack poverty with preventive measures, that poverty will continue to exist, and that Zaccheus, a rich man, was called as a disciple of Jesus.

The book names Gabriel Tarde as the chief founder of social psychology and says that Tarde was a jurist who inquired into the causes of anti-social conduct and was greatly impressed by the observation that criminal acts are committed in waves. Socrates is said to have wished to make all men intelligent, and a good carpenter is described as an individual who thoroughly understands carpentry, while a good man truly knows the value of good actions.