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THE PRINCIPLES OF ETHICS. 
( i 
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‘ The Ethics of Social Life’ : ‘ Justice,’ and have now, to my great 
satisfaction, succeeded in finishing it.” 
Tracing the rudiments of justice in the lower animals, Mr. 
Spencer proceeds, step by step, through humanity, both primitive 
and civilised, and ultimately evolves the golden precept, or 
formula, that :—“ Every man is free to do that which he wills, 
provided he infringes not the equal freedom of any other man.” 
The basis of the authority for this formula is thus laid down by 
Mr. Spencer:—“Examination of the facts has shown it to be a 
fundamental law, by conformity to which life has evolved from its 
lowest up to its highest forms, that each adult individual shall take 
the consequences of its own nature and actions, survival of the 
fittest being the result.” Adopting this precept as a standpoint, he 
reviews the various rights of individuals, their relations to each 
other, and their relation to the State, the duties of the State, 
finally passing to the limits of State duties. 
Another interval ensued, and again—and for the third time in 
the leafy month of June (which is the culminating period of 
Mr. Spencer’s highest vitality and most fertile production) of this 
memorable year 1892, he supplies the intermediate portions, and, 
to quote his own words:—“This purpose their publication] 
has fortunately now been compassed, and Parts II. and III. are 
herewith issued in conjunction with Part I. as proposed in the 
original programme.” 
Mr. Spencer points out that “ one object he had in describing 
this irregular course of publication is the excuse it affords him for 
some small repetitions, and perhaps minor incongruities which he 
suspects exist. The endeavour to make certain of the divisions 
comprehensible by themselves has prompted inclusion in them of 
explanations belonging to other divisions, which publication of the 
work as a whole would have rendered superfluous.” 
We are now brought up to date with the antecedents of this 
remarkable volume, in which the author says :—“ We have to deal 
with man as a product of evolution, with society as a product of 
evolution, and with moral phenomenon as products of evolution,” 
and my business this evening is to introduce you to these new 
May, 1893. 
