THE DATA OF ETHICS. 
59 
THE DATA OF ETHICS* 
BY CONSTANCE C. W. NADEN. 
“ The Data of Ethics” forms the top- 
stone of Mr. Herbert Spencer’s philo¬ 
sophy, or, at least, the highest stone 
yet placed; so that the Sociological 
Section of this Society, having but just 
completed the study of the “ Principles 
of Biology,” may seem unwarrantably 
to jump to a conclusion, by selecting 
this work for its next consideration. 
And yet, in making the leap, we do 
but follow the example set by Mr. 
Spencer himself. This book, which 
constitutes the first division of the 
work on the “ Principles of Morality,” 
with which the system ends, appears, 
the author tells us, out of its place, 
the second and third volumes of the 
“Principles of Sociology” being as yet 
unpublished. “ The night cometli, 
wherein no man can work,” is in sub¬ 
stance the pathetic reason given for this 
departure from the natural order of precedence. This last 
part of the task it is to which the Synthesist regards 
all the preceding parts as subsidiary. “ My ultimate 
purpose,” he says, “ lying behind all proximate purposes, 
has been that of finding for the principles of right and 
wrong in conduct at large, a scientific basis. To leave 
this purpose unfulfilled after making so extensive a pre¬ 
paration for fulfilling it would be a failure, the probability 
of which I do not like to contemplate, and I am anxious to 
preclude it, if not wholly, still partially. Hence the step I 
now take.” Now, although as a section we may perhaps 
hope for that long life and strength which all of us must 
sincerely wish to Mr. Spencer, still it is natural that we 
should desire to touch and comprehend at an early stage of 
our studies what he regards as the vital point of his philosophy. 
* An address delivered to the Sociological Section of the Birming¬ 
ham Natural History and Microscopical Society, at the first meeting 
of the Section under the new laws of the Society, held at the Mason 
College, Birmingham, Tuesday, 22nd February, 1887. (Transactions 
of the Society.) 
