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 individ- 

 ual freedom An appeal to rights, and to (human) history, emerg- 

 ing from militarism For which Spencer feels an exaggerated dread 

 Spencer masses facts rather than unifies knowledge The " so- 

 cial 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 propor- 

 tion 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 en- 

 tirely given place to the free co-operation distinctive 

 of industrialism. 



The first of these positions is not specially formu- 

 lated or emphasised by Spencer, but represents an 

 assumption that runs through much of his system, 



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