Editorial
Abstract
Editorial SAGE Publications, Inc.1961DOI: 10.1177/002071526100200101 K.Ishwaran IT is gratifying to note that our Journal has attracted attention in different quarters of sociological thinking. We are happy, especially, if our comparative approach is welcomed in the sphere of developing scientific knowledge and for deepening a proper understanding of different cultures. It is in this connection that we would like to lay further emphasis on the application of sociological knowledge, acquired through the comparative and inter-disciplinary approach, for developing, especially, the technologically less advanced countries. The American Sociological Association held a "Herbert Spencer's Centenary Meeting" last year, and it is important to note that in our times there is a departure from his method of studying societies and his ideas on utilizing scientific knowledge. However, Spencer's preoccupation with social evolution is no longer suspect today, thanks to neo-evolutionists like Gordon Childe, Julian Steward and Leslie White, and to be up-todate, to Walter Goldschmidt. The pendulum of sociological fashion has swung back. Radcliffe-Brown himself could not fail to commend Spencer's ideas, even while amending them. While paying reverence to Spencer, one cannot help pointing out his strong isolation from the French pioneer sociologists and proto-sociologists like Saint Simon, Comte, Le Play