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HERBERT SPENCER.
THE DATA
OF ETHICS
By HERBERT SPENCER
Author of "FIRST PRINCIPLES," "EDUCATION," etc.
A. L. BURT COMPANY,
PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
A reference to the programme of the "System ofSynthetic Philosophy" will show that the chaptersherewith issued constitute the first division of thework on the Principles of Morality, with which theSystem ends. As the second and third volumes ofthe Principles of Sociology are as yet unpublished,this installment of the succeeding work appears out ofits place.
I have been led thus to deviate from the orderoriginally set down by the fear that persistence in conformingto it might result in leaving the final work ofthe series unexecuted. Hints, repeated of late yearswith increasing frequency and distinctness, have shownme that health may permanently fail, even if life doesnot end, before I reach the last part of the task I havemarked out for myself. This last part of the task itis to which I regard all the preceding parts as subsidiary.Written as far back as 1842, my first essay,consisting of letters on The Proper Sphere of Government,vaguely indicated what I conceived to be certaingeneral principles of right and wrong in political conduct,and from that time onward my ultimate purpose,lying behind all proximate purposes, has been that offinding for the principles of right and wrong, in conductat large, a scientific basis. To leave this purposeivunfulfilled, after making so extensive a preparation forfulfilling it, would be a failure the probability of whichI do not like to contemplate, and I am anxious to precludeit, if not wholly, still partially. Hence the stepI now take. Though this first division of the workterminating the Synthetic Philosophy, cannot, ofcourse, contain the specific conclusions to be set forthin the entire work, yet it implies them in such wisethat, definitely to formulate them requires nothingbeyond logical deduction.
I am the more anxious to indicate in outline, if Icannot complete, this final work, because th