CHAPTER IX 



MR. SPENCER'S THREE DOCTRINES OF HUMAN WELFARE 



Goodness is more evolved conduct, i.e. is "wisdom" An appeal to (cosmic) 

 history ! It is balance, of egoism and altruism An appeal to economics 

 and to (hedonistic) psychology It is individual freedom An appeal to 

 rights, and to (human) history, emerging from militarism For which 

 Spencer feels an exaggerated dread Spencer masses facts rather than 

 unifies knowledge The "social organism" is only a phrase with him. 



HAVING sought to differentiate Spencer's position as an 

 evolutionist from Darwin's, we may now return to our 

 more proper theme, by asking what doctrine or doctrines 

 of human welfare Mr. Spencer furnishes. 



We note three main positions, independent of each 

 other. First, human conduct is good or wise in pro- 

 portion as it is more evolved ; secondly, in proportion 

 as it draws near the ideal goal of ethical progress, the 

 perfect balance between egoistic and altruistic impulses ; 

 thirdly, in proportion as it is faithful to the high 

 attainments of modern social advance with its ideal of a 

 still higher future, when the compulsory co-operation 

 distinctive of militarism shall have entirely given place 

 to the free co-operation distinctive of industrialism. 



The first of these positions is not specially formulated 

 or emphasised by Spencer, but represents an assumption 

 that runs through much of his system, and that works 

 to the surface at many isolated points. Good conduct 

 is more evolved than bad conduct, and, being more 



