INTRODUCTION 



of European nations." In another connection, 

 the whole modern discussion of the early history 

 of Marriage, not only as Spencer summarizes 

 it, but as it has been discussed by various other 

 writers, would have given Fiske ground to add, 

 at all events, to the brief statements upon that 

 subject which are found in his text. 



On the other hand, it seems to me less prob- 

 able that Fiske would have very notably altered 

 his views as to the evolution, the significance, 

 or the contents o^ the moral consciousness in 

 consequence of any of the discussions of Spen- 

 cer's treatise on Ethics. He might and prob- 

 ably would have had much to write by way of 

 supplement to what he has indicated upon ethi- 

 cal topics in the " Cosmic Philosophy." But in 

 its main outlines his ethical theory is sufficiently 

 mdicated in the book now before us. Here ne 

 is in close agreement with Spencer's principal 

 theses. Their fuller development in the " Prin- 

 ciples of Ethics " would have given him much 

 food, both for thought and for possible expo- 

 sition. But the result would have been less 

 notable, in the way of change, than seems likely 

 in case of his study of the problems of social 

 evolution. 



46. Yet in quite another direction Fiske 

 would also have found himself called upon to 

 supplement his present discussion, although I 

 cxlvi 



