188 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



religious basis as unsound.* I shall follow chiefly the teachings of one 

 who has inculcated in their best and purest form the scientific doc- 

 trines of morality, and may be regarded as head, if not founder, of 

 that school of philosophy which, on purely scientific grounds, sets hap- 

 piness as the test of duty — the measure of moral obligation. To Mr. 

 Herbert Spencer we owe, I take it, the fullest and clearest answer to 

 the melancholy question, "Is Life "Worth Living?" whether asked 

 whiningly, as in the feeble lamentations of such folk as Mr. Mallock, 

 or gloomily and sternly, as in the Promethean groans of Carlyle. The 

 doctrine that happiness is to be sought for one's self (but as a duty to 

 others as well as to self), that the happiness of others is to be sought 

 as a duty (to one's self as well as to them) — happiness as a means, hap- 

 piness as the chief end — such has been the outcome of the much- 

 maligned philosophy of Mr. Herbert Spencer, such has been the lesson 

 resulting from his pursuance of what he himself describes as his " ulti- 

 mate purpose, lying behind all proximate purposes," that of "finding for 

 the principles of right and wrong, in conduct at large, a scientific basis." 



If I can help to bring this noble and beautiful doctrine — for noble 

 and beautiful even those must admit it to be who deny its truth — be- 

 fore the many who regard Herbert Spencer's teachings with fear and 

 trembling, not knowing what they are, I shall be content. But I 

 would advise all, who have time, to read the words of the master him- 

 self. Apart from the great doctrines which they convey, they are de- 

 lightful reading, clear and simple in language, graceful and dignified 

 in tone, almost as worthy to be studied as examples of force and clear- 

 ness in exposition as for that which nevertheless constitutes their real 

 value — the pure and beautiful moral doctrines which they offer to those 

 over whom current creeds have lost their influence. 



Let me hope that none will be deterred from following this study, 

 by the inviting aspect of the moral rules advanced by the great mod- 

 ern teacher — even as in past times men were anxious, or even angry, 

 when another teacher showed more consideration for human weak- 

 nesses than had seemed right to the men of older times. I will not 

 ask here whether doctrines of repellent aspect are likely to be more 

 desirable than those which are more benignantly advanced. It suffices 

 that with many the former now exert no influence, whether they should 

 do so or not. So that, as far as these (for whom I am chiefly writing) 

 are concerned, all must admit the truth of what Mr. Spencer says re- 

 specting the benefits to be derived from presenting moral rule under 

 that attractive aspect which it has when undisturbed by superstition 

 and asceticism. To close these introductory remarks by a quotation 

 from the charming pages of his " Data of Ethics ": 



* I say " so-called," referring rather to the word " religious " than to any question con- 

 cerning the divine origin of current creeds. Strictly speaking, the word religious may be 

 as correctly applied to moral rules based on scientific considerations as to those formu- 

 lated in company with any of the diverse creeds prevailing among men. 



