B 



PREFACE 



THE historical sketch and criticism here attempted had 

 its proximate origin in two consecutive years' work with 

 a senior class of sociology at Lancashire College. In 

 1896-97, essays were prescribed on topics suggested by 

 Mr. Benjamin Kidd's Social Evolution; while the 

 seniors of 1897-98 attended lectures covering rather 

 more ground. The material thus collected has been 

 again revised and again considerably added to. The 

 literature of the subject is always growing. Some 

 books of consequence, old or new, must have been 

 overlooked. Still, it is hoped that the subject itself has 

 well-defined limits. The appeal to biology, outlined 

 by Comte, newly defined and emphasised by Darwinism, 

 has now been stated in the most extreme form logically 

 possible. Mr. Kidd's book holds that significant 

 position. 



In studying the questions raised, the author has 

 found himself, though with certain grave reserves, more 

 and more thrown back upon philosophical principles 

 learned at Glasgow, above twenty years ago, from the 

 present Master of Balliol College. 



