Ward, L. F. (1907). Action. Direct means to progress, or second proximate end of conation. In L. F. Ward, Dynamic sociology or applied social science: As based upon statical sociology and the less complex sciences, Vol. 2, pp. 308-399). New York, NY, US: D Appleton & Company.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/13648-004
In the two preceding chapters we have seen--1. That true utility consists in the increase of human happiness, which is the ultimate end of all voluntary effort; and--2. That social progress, such as it has been defined and described, constitutes the immediate and direct means to that ultimate end. Since the increase of happiness upon a large scale can not be secured directly, it becomes necessary to inquire how it can be secured indirectly. Progress being an immediate means to that end, and the only immediate means, the question is reduced to a consideration of the means to progress. It is clear that in a general way this must consist in some form of action. If the ultimate end could be directly secured, it would require to be done by means of some kind of action. In that case, the civilizing influences of society might be left out of the account, and this class of action necessary to work an increase of happiness without their aid would then constitute the immediate means instead of the secondary means. It is commonly supposed that human happiness can be increased in this direct way by certain forms of action. The ethical code rests on this assumption. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)