EDITOR'S TABLE. 



851 



plified the wortli of mental acquisitions 

 for practical purposes, and points to its 

 conquests over the material world as 

 proofs of its useful services to man. 

 But it is a far higher service to have 

 disclosed the true method of nature 

 and determined man's real position in 

 the universe ; because only as these are 

 understood can human conditions be 

 permanently improved. vSpencer's phi- 

 losophy assumes this higher sphere of 

 beneficent influence, and throughout 

 its whole development it bears upon 

 the final and regnant problem of the 

 regulation of human conduct. Each 

 division of his system has its intrinsic 

 interest as a new exposition of princi- 

 ples determined by the great reorgan- 

 izing law of evolution ; but " First 

 Principles," the "Principles of Biolo- 

 gy," the "Principles of Psychology," 

 and the "Principles of Sociology," are 

 only so many foundations for the ulti- 

 mate exposition of the "Principles of 

 Ethics." The constitution of nature as 

 an ever-unfolding order, the laws of 

 life, the laws of mind, and the laws 

 of social relation, are successively ex- 

 pounded with a view to their final 

 bearing upon the right and wrong of 

 human actions. 



The inspiration of these labors was 

 a profound interest in the moral wel- 

 fare of society ; and there are many 

 who can now appreciate the sagacious 

 forecast that could discern an approach- 

 ing emergency of thought for which it 

 was imperatively necessary to prepare. 

 While yet the idea of evolution was 

 derided as a fanciful conceit of vision- 

 ary minds, Herbert Spencer knew that 

 it was soon to become the governing 

 law of the world's best intelligence. 

 He saw that, among the great changes 

 that would follow, the traditional theo- 

 ries of morality would be sure to suffer 

 irreparable damage, and that morality 

 itself might lose its force if not forti- 

 fied by a new authority. The synthetic 

 philosophy was accordingly laid out in 

 its complete logical order more than 



twenty years ago, to meet the inevi- 

 table emergency that has now arisen, 

 and the wisdom of this prescience is at- 

 tested by the eager interest with which 

 the " Data of Ethics '' was lately re- 

 ceived in every civilized country. 



The aim of Spencer's philosophy is, 

 therefore, to organize that scientific 

 knowledge of nature and human nature 

 which shall be most valuable for guid- 

 ance, alike of the individual in his per- 

 sonal and private sphere, and of socie- 

 ty in its relations with the individual. 

 This system establishes the principles 

 by which the freedom of the citizen 

 and the duty of the state are deter- 

 mined. There, as nowhere else, we are 

 shown the growth and conditions of 

 human hberty, and the forces that have 

 hindered and the forces that have pro- 

 moted its progress. 



Nor has the reader to go far for evi- 

 dence of what we say. The last install- 

 ment of his system that Spencer has 

 given us is luminous with new instruc- 

 tion upon this subject. The article on 

 " The Militant Type of Society " lon^, 

 but not too long printed in the pres- 

 ent number of the "Monthly," exem- 

 plifies in an impressive if not a startling 

 way the obstructive agencies of social 

 progress. A succeeding article on 

 " The Industrial Type of Society " will 

 complete the view by showing what 

 causes have been most powerful in pro- 

 ducing beneficent social and political 

 effects. The reader will find in those 

 papers exemplifications of the enlarged 

 utility which dominates Spencer's sys- 

 tem, and for which he will look in vain 

 in any preceding philosophy. 



These, then, are the leading reasons 

 why this system of thought has at- 

 tained its " remarkable influence," and 

 merely to conceive which " is itself an 

 education to an age." But if the bare 

 conception of it, even before it is fin- 

 ished, has so benign and improving an 

 influence, what may we not expect from 

 it when it is studied and understood, 

 and becomes a power in the public 



