In this Book

summary

Spencer had caught a vision of what might be in store for mankind if its potential were free to realize itself.

— Edmund A. Opitz, The Freeman

This volume contains the four essays that Spencer published as The Man Versus the State in 1884 as well as five essays added by later publishers. In addition, it provides "The Proper Sphere of Government," an important early essay by Spencer.

Spencer develops various specific disastrous ramifications of the wholesale substitution of the principle of compulsory cooperation—the statist principle—for the individualist principle of voluntary cooperation. His theme is that "there is in society . . . that beautiful self-adjusting principle which will keep all its elements in equilibrium. . . . The attempt to regulate all the actions of a community by legislation will entail little else but misery and compulsion."

Eric Mack is Professor of Philosophy at Newcomb College of Tulane University

Table of Contents

restricted access Download Full Book
  1. Cover
  2. p. 1
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Title Page, Copyright
  2. pp. 2-5
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. CONTENTS
  2. pp. v-7
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. PUBLISHER'S NOTE
  2. pp. vii-viii
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. FOREWORD
  2. pp. ix-xx
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. INTRODUCTION
  2. pp. xxi-31
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. THE MAN VERSUS THE STATE
  2. pp. 1-2
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. PREFACE
  2. pp. 3-4
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. THE NEW TORYISM
  2. pp. 5-30
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. THE COMING SLAVERY
  2. pp. 31-70
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. THE SINS OF LEGISLATORS
  2. pp. 71-122
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. THE GREAT POLITICAL SUPERSTITION
  2. pp. 123-166
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. POSTSCRIPT
  2. pp. 167-178
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. SIX ESSAYS ON GOVERNMENT, SOCIETY, AND FREEDOM
  1. THE PROPER SPHERE OF GOVERNMENT
  2. pp. 181-264
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. OVER-LEGISLATION (1853)
  2. pp. 265-330
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT-WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? (1857)
  2. pp. 331-382
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. THE SOCIAL ORGANISM ( t86o)
  2. pp. 383-434
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. SPECIALIZED ADMINISTRATION (1871)
  2. pp. 435-486
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. FROM FREEDOM TO BONDAGE (1891)
  2. pp. 487-518
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. INDEX
  2. pp. 519-528
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
Back To Top

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Without cookies your experience may not be seamless.