The Positive Background of Hindu Sociology c6.s3.2

c6.s3.2

According to this view it may be inappropriate to trace the production of *Śukranīti* to the patronage or influence of any of the numerous polities and royal courts in Hindu India. But even the most idealistic literature is not absolutely independent of age and clime. The time-spirit and place-spirit are too powerful to be totally ignored by human genius even if it should consciously attempt this. We may ignore in this connection the monistic "regionalism" or geographical "interpretation" of history as developed by Demolins, who carried to extreme lengths the somewhat radical ideas of Le Play. But there is no difficulty in accepting the more reasonable views of Brunhes as developed in *La Géographie Humaine* or of Worms in *La Sociologie*⁵ in regard to the influence of place on man's activities. Thurnwald's *Die Gestaltung der Wirtschaftsentwicklung aus ihren Anfängen heraus* also can be depended upon as a sober treatment of the place-factor in economic and other human achievements. The social environment and physical surroundings,—both the aspects of the great envelope of man,—cannot but leave their marks upon his intellectual consciousness and literary activities of any considerable magnitude.