SPENCEKS SYSTEM OF rniLOSOPJIT. 



THE nilLOSOPlIY OF EVOLUTION. 



]5y HERBERT SPENCER. 



This great syptem ofsclentlflc tliou<!;ht, the most orii^lnal and important men- 

 la] undertaking of the ago, to which Mr. Spencer has devoted liis life, is now well 

 advanced, iho published volumes being: Firel I'rindples, T/ie Princ/jiles cf lii- 

 olo'jy, (wo volumes, and The Principles of PsyclLology, vol. i., which will bo 

 shortly printed. 



This philosophical system differs from all its predecessors in being solidly 

 bised on the sciences of observation and induction ; in representing the order 

 and course of Nature ; in bringing Nature and man, life, mind, and society, under 

 one great law of action ; and in developing a method of thonglit which may serve 

 for praclical guidance in dealing with the affairs of life. That Mr. Spencer is tho 

 man for this great work will bo evident from the following statements : 



"The only complete and systematic statement of the doctrine of Evolution 

 with which I am acquainted is tliat contained in Mr. Herbert Spencer's 'System 

 of Pliilosophy ; ' a work which should be carefully studied by all who desire to 

 know whither scientific thought is tending."— T. II. IIuxley. 



" Of all onr thinkers, he is the one who has formed to himself the largest new 

 scheme of a systematic philosophy." — Prof. Masson. 



"If any individual influence is visibly encroaching on Mills in this country, it 

 iB his." — Ibid. 



" Mr. Spencer is one of the most vigorous as well as boldest Ihkikers that 

 English speculation has yet produced." — Joiix Stuaut Mo,!.. 



" One of the acutcst nietaphysiciaus of modern times." — Ibid. 



"One of our deepest thinkers."— Dr. Joseph D. IIooker. 



It is questionable if any thinker of liner calibre has appeared i.i onr coun- 

 try."— QEonoE IIentiy Lewes. 



"He alone, of all British thinkers, has organized a philosophy."— /77rf. 



"lie is as keen an analyst as is known in the histoiy of philotophy ; I do not 

 esccpt either Aristotle or Kant."— George Kiplet. 



"If we were to givo our own judgment, we should say that, since Newton, 

 there has not in England been a philosopher of more remarkable speculative and 

 «ysteraatizing talent than (in spite of some errors and some narrowness) Mr. Iler- 

 bcrt Spencer."— £.on</on Saturday lieview. 



" We cannot refrain from offering onr tribute of respect to one who, whether 

 for the extent of his positlvo knowledge, or for the profundity of his spcculutivo 

 ln.«lj?ht, has already achieved a name second to none In the whole ningt of Ensr- 

 lleh pliilosopliy, and whoi^e works will worthily sustain the credit of EnLjUsb 

 thought in <hc present gwierallon."— Westminster lieview. 



