FIRST PRINCIPLES By HERBERT SPENCER Author of DATA OF ETHICS,
EDUCATION etc., etc. j REPRINTED FROM THE FIFTH LONDON EDITION,
UNALTERED AND UNABRIDGED A. L. BURT COMPANY, J PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
HERBERT SPENCER PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION To the first edition
of this work there should have been prefixed a definite indication
of its origin and the misap prehensions that have arisen in the
absence of such indica tions ought before now to have shown me the
need for supplying it. Though reference was made in a note on the
first page of the original preface to certain essays entitled Pro
gress Its Law and Cause and Transcendental Pnysi ology, as
containing generalizations which were to be elaborated in the
System of Philosophy there set forth in programme, yet the dates of
these essays were not given nor was there any indication of their
cardinal importance as containing, in a brief form, the general
theory of evolu tion. No clear evidence to the contrary standing in
the way, there has been very generally uttered and accepted the
belief that this work, and the works following it, originated
after, and resulted from, the special doctrine contained in Mr.
Darwins Origin of Species The essay on Progress Its Law and Cause,
co-exten sive in the theory it contains with chapters xv, xvi,
xvii, and xx, in part ii, of this work, was first published in the
Westminster Review for April, 1857 and the essay in which is
briefly set forth the general truth elaborated in chapter xix,
originally appeared under the title of The Ultimate Laws of
Physiology, in the National Review for October, 1857. Further, I
may point out that in the first edition of The Principles of
Psychology published in July, 1855, mental phenomena are
interpreted entirely from the evolution point of view and the words
used in iv PREFACE. the titles of sundry chapters imply the
presence, at that date, of ideas more widely applied in the essays
just named. As the first edition of Origin of Species did not make
its appearance till October, 1859, it is manifest that the theory
set forth in this work and its successors had an origin independent
of, and prior to, that which is com monly assumed to have initiated
it. The distinctness of origin might, indeed, have been in ferred
from the work itself, which deals with evolution at large
inorganic, organic, and super-organic in terms of matter and motion
and touches but briefly on those par ticular processes so
luminously exhibited by Mr. Darwin. In 159 only p. 387 when
illustrating the law of The Multiplication of Effects, as
universally displayed, have I had occasion to refer to the doctrine
set forth in Origin of Species pointing out that the general cause
I had previously assigned for the production of divergent varieties
of organisms would not suffice to account for all the facts without
that special cause disclosed by Mr. Darwin. The absence of this
passage would, of course, leave a serious gap in the general
argument but the re mainder of the work would stand exactly as it
now does. I do not make this explanation in the belief that the
prevailing misapprehension will thereby soon be rectified for I am
conscious that, once having become current, wrong beliefs of this
kind long persist all disproofs not withstanding. Nevertheless, I
yield to the suggestion that unless I state the facts as they stand
I shall continue to countenance the misapprehension, and
cannotexpect it to cease. With the exception of unimportant changes
in one of the notes, and some typographical corrections, the text
of this edition is identical with that of the l st. May, 1880.
PREFACE. THIS volume is the first of a series described in a pros
pectus originally distributed in March, I860, Of that prospectus
the annexed is a reprint. A SYSTEM OF PHILOSOPHY. ME. HEEBEET
SPEKCEE proposes to issue in periodical parts a connected series of
works which he has for several years been preparing...
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
