The Contemporary significance of Lester Frank Ward : a re- interpretation and application of L.F. Ward's sociological works
Date
1995
Authors
McFadden, Michael Patrick
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Abstract
Sir Issac Newton, while reflecting on his scientific achievements, reportedly said, "I only see far because I stand on the shoulders of giants" (Merton, 1965). Contemporary North American sociologists have been eager to stand on the shoulders of European sociological giants. Meanwhile, they ignore the indigenous social theory of scholars such as Lester F. Ward. This thesis demonstrates the contemporary relevance of Ward's indigenous sociology. In doing so, it will attempt to answer four questions: i) Who was Lester Frank Ward?; ii) Why were Ward's accomplishments marginalized?; iii) What were his major ideas?; and, iv) Do any of Ward's ideas, such as "synergy", "sympodial shifts" and "equilibrium", and "telesis", have the potential to improve contemporary sociological theory on the processes of social change?
Lester Frank Ward is North America's first sociologist and he developed the first indigenous systematic sociological theory. But, his sociological accomplishments have been marginalized by latter day sociologists more concerned with attaining "aurea mediocratas" than understanding qualitative social change due to dynamic processes. Ward's ideas of "synergy", "sympodial shifts" and "equilibrium", and "telesis", cradled in catastrophe theory as the conceptual framework, does improve contemporary sociology's ability to explain the dynamic processes of qualitative social change.