In answer to the last question, how about Durkheim's theory of mechanical and organic solidarity? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_and_organic_solidari...

Your other comments remind me of what Lagrange said in 1781 about mathematics: "...I am not sure that I shall still do geometry ten years from now. I also think that the mine is already almost too deep, and must sooner or later be abandoned. Today, Physics and Chemistry offer more brilliant discoveries and which are easier to exploit"

http://www.westfield.ma.edu/math/faculty/fleron/quotes/viewq...