Ward, Lester Frank

Ward, Lester Frank
(1841-1913)
One of the pioneers of American sociology, founder of a psychological evolutionism, which (contrary to Herbert Spencer ) ascribed an important role in evolution to human mentality. Self-educated from boyhood, Ward enlisted in the Union Army in 1863, and finally gained his university degrees through evening study. He was a geologist and palaeontologist until the age of 65-when he accepted a professorship in sociology at Brown University (where he continued to teach until his death). In 1906 he was elected to be the first president of the American Sociological Society. Greatly influenced by Comte and Spencer, Ward's sociology is organized around a theory of evolution. This process is described in terms of stages, these being the result initially of ‘genesis’ (spontaneous blind forces), but latterly of ‘telesis’ (purposive actions of humans based on knowledge and the anticipation of consequences). Ward conceptualized sociology as the systematic study of social forces, these being psychic in nature, and resulting in a continuous process of ‘social synergy’ by which new structures were created. He is significant mainly because his works, particularly his discussion of telesis, anticipate the emphasis that twentieth-century sociology was to place on culture (see Dynamic Sociology, 1902; Pure Sociology, 1903; and Applied Sociology, 1906). There is a useful introduction to his writings in, The Making of Sociology, volume i (1971).

Dictionary of sociology. 2013.

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  • Ward, Lester Frank — ▪ American sociologist born June 18, 1841, Joliet, Illinois, U.S. died April 18, 1913, Washington, D.C.       American sociologist who was instrumental in establishing sociology as an academic discipline in the United States. An optimist who… …   Universalium

  • Lester Frank Ward — Lester Frank Ward. Lester Frank Ward (* 18. Juni 1841 in Joliet, Illinois; † 18. April 1913 in Washington D.C.) war ein US amerikanischer Soziologe und wichtiger Gründervater der amerikanischen Soziologie …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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  • Lester Frank Ward — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Ward. Lester Frank Ward …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Lester Frank Ward — Lester F. Ward (June 18, 1841 ndash;April 18, 1913) was an American botanist, paleontologist, and sociologist. He served as the first president of the American Sociological Association.Ward s works and ideasWard was born in Joliet, Illinois.By… …   Wikipedia

  • Ward's — Ward, Lester Frank …   Dictionary of sociology

  • Lester Franck Ward — Lester Frank Ward Lester Frank Ward Photographie provenant de la « Warren J. Samuels Portrait Collecti …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ward (Name) — Ward ist ein Vor und Familienname. Bekannte Namensträger Familienname Inhaltsverzeichnis A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Frank Edwin Ward — (October 7, 1862 1953) was an American composer and organist. Born in Wysox, Pennsylvania, he was the son of author Cyrenus Osborne Ward, and the nephew of Lester Frank Ward. He was educated at Columbia University, and later served as its… …   Wikipedia

  • Lester — hace referencia a: Lester Frank Ward, sociólogo estadounidense; Lester Young, músico estadounidense; Lester, nombre real de Bullseye, personaje de ficción de Marvel Comics. Lester, la rata del programa de televisión El Mundo de Beakman. Esta… …   Wikipedia Español

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