In this Book

  • The Principles of Ethics: In Two Volumes
  • Book
  • Herbert Spencer
  • 2012
  • Published by: Liberty Fund
summary

Spencer provides us with an intellectual adventure rarely matched, especially in our own epoch.

—From the Introduction

Though almost forgotten today, Herbert Spencer ranks as one of the foremost individualist philosophers. His influence in the latter half of the nineteenth century was immense.

Spencer's name is usually linked with Darwin's, for it was he who penned the phrase, "survival of the fittest." Today in America he is most often admired for his trenchant essays in The Man Versus the State. But Spencer himself considered The Principles of Ethics to be his finest work. In the second volume, under "Justice," is his final statement on the role of the state. His formula for justice is summed up in these words: "Every man is free to do that which he wills, provided he infringes not the equal freedom of any other man."

Table of Contents

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  1. Cover
  2. p. 1
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  1. Volume 1
  2. pp. 2-5
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  1. Title Page, Copyright
  2. pp. 6-7
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  1. Contents of Volume I
  2. pp. 7-8
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  1. Herbert Spencer: A Century Later
  2. pp. 9-22
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  1. General Preface
  2. pp. 23-28
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  1. Preface to Volume I
  2. pp. 29-30
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  1. Preface to Part I
  2. pp. 31-34
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  1. Part I: The Data of Ethics
  2. pp. 35-36
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  1. 1. Conduct in General
  2. pp. 37-42
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  1. 2. The Evolution of Conduct
  2. pp. 43-56
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  1. 3. Good and Bad Conduct
  2. pp. 57-80
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  1. 4. Ways of Judging Conduct
  2. pp. 81-98
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  1. 5. The Physical View
  2. pp. 99-110
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  1. 6. The Biological View
  2. pp. 111-136
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  1. 7. The Psychological View
  2. pp. 137-164
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  1. 8. The Sociological View
  2. pp. 165-182
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  1. 9. Criticisms and Explanations
  2. pp. 183-204
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  1. 10. The Relativity of Pains and Pleasures
  2. pp. 205-216
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  1. 11. Egoism Versus Altruism
  2. pp. 217-230
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  1. 12. Altruism Versus Egoism
  2. pp. 231-248
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  1. 13. Trial and Compromise
  2. pp. 249-270
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  1. 14. Conciliation
  2. pp. 271-286
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  1. 15. Absolute and Relative Ethics
  2. pp. 287-308
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  1. 16. The Scope of Ethics
  2. pp. 309-316
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  1. Appendix to Part I
  2. pp. 317-336
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  1. Part II: The Inductions of Ethics
  2. pp. 337-338
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  1. 1. The Confusion of Ethical Thought
  2. pp. 339-356
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  1. 2. What Ideas and Sentiments Are Ethical?
  2. pp. 357-370
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  1. 3. Aggression
  2. pp. 371-382
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  1. 4. Robbery
  2. pp. 383-392
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  1. 5. Revenge
  2. pp. 393-400
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  1. 6. Justice
  2. pp. 401-410
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  1. 7. Generosity
  2. pp. 411-422
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  1. 8. Humanity
  2. pp. 423-432
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  1. 9. Veracity
  2. pp. 433-442
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  1. 10. Obedience
  2. pp. 443-454
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  1. 11. Industry
  2. pp. 455-466
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  1. 12. Temperance
  2. pp. 467-480
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  1. 13. Chastity
  2. pp. 481-496
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  1. 14. Summary of Inductions
  2. pp. 497-506
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  1. Part III: The Ethics Of Individual Life
  2. pp. 507-508
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  1. 1. Introductory
  2. pp. 509-516
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  1. 2. Activity
  2. pp. 517-524
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  1. 3. Rest
  2. pp. 525-530
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  1. 4. Nutrition
  2. pp. 531-538
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  1. 5. Stimulation
  2. pp. 539-544
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  1. 6. Culture
  2. pp. 545-554
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  1. 7. Amusements
  2. pp. 555-562
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  1. 8. Marriage
  2. pp. 563-574
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  1. 9. Parenthood
  2. pp. 575-584
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  1. 10. General Conclusions
  2. pp. 585-592
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  1. References
  2. pp. 593-600
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  1. Index to Volume I
  2. pp. 601-613
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  1. About the Author, Production Notes
  2. p. 615
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  1. Volume 2
  2. pp. 616-619
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  1. Title Page, Copyright
  2. pp. 620-621
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  1. Contents of Volume II
  2. pp. 7-10
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  1. Preface to Volume II
  2. pp. 11-14
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  1. Preface to Part IV
  2. pp. 15-16
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  1. Part IV: The Ethics of Social Life: Justice
  2. pp. 17-18
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  1. 1. Animal Ethics
  2. pp. 19-24
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  1. 2. Subhuman Justice
  2. pp. 25-32
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  1. 3. Human Justice
  2. pp. 33-40
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  1. 4. The Sentiment of Justice
  2. pp. 41-50
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  1. 5. The Idea of Justice
  2. pp. 51-60
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  1. 6. The Formula of Justice
  2. pp. 61-64
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  1. 7. The Authority of This Formula
  2. pp. 65-78
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  1. 8. Its Corollaries
  2. pp. 79-80
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  1. 9. The Right to Physical Integrity
  2. pp. 81-88
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  1. 10. The Rights to Free Motion and Locomotion
  2. pp. 89-96
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  1. 11. The Rights to the Uses of Natural Media
  2. pp. 97-110
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  1. 12. The Right of Property
  2. pp. 111-120
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  1. 13. The Right of Incorporeal Property
  2. pp. 121-134
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  1. 14. The Rights of Gift and Bequest
  2. pp. 135-142
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  1. 15. The Rights of Free Exchange and Free Contract
  2. pp. 143-148
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  1. 16. The Right to Free Industry
  2. pp. 149-152
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  1. 17. The Rights of Free Belief and Worship
  2. pp. 153-156
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  1. 18. The Rights of Free Speech and Publication
  2. pp. 157-164
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  1. 19. A Retrospect with an Addition
  2. pp. 165-174
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  1. 20. The Rights of Women
  2. pp. 175-184
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  1. 21. The Rights of Children
  2. pp. 185-192
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  1. 22. Political Rights—So-Called
  2. pp. 193-200
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  1. 23. The Nature of the State
  2. pp. 201-208
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  1. 24. The Constitution of the State
  2. pp. 209-220
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  1. 25. The Duties of the State
  2. pp. 221-234
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  1. 26. The Limits of State Duties
  2. pp. 235-246
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  1. 27. The Limits of State Duties—Continued
  2. pp. 247-256
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  1. 28. The Limits of State Duties—Continued
  2. pp. 257-270
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  1. 29. The Limits of State Duties—Concluded
  2. pp. 271-280
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  1. Part V: The Ethics of Social Life: Negative Beneficence
  2. pp. 281-282
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  1. 1. Kinds of Altruism
  2. pp. 283-296
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  1. 2. Restraints on Free Competition
  2. pp. 297-306
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  1. 3. Restraints on Free Contract
  2. pp. 307-316
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  1. 4. Restraints on Undeserved Payments
  2. pp. 317-324
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  1. 5. Restraints on Displays of Ability
  2. pp. 325-330
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  1. 6. Restraints on Blame
  2. pp. 331-338
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  1. 7. Restraints on Praise
  2. pp. 339-346
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  1. 8. The Ultimate Sanctions
  2. pp. 347-350
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  1. Part VI: The Ethics of Social Life: Positive Beneficence
  2. pp. 351-352
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  1. 1. Marital Beneficence
  2. pp. 353-360
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  1. 2. Parental Beneficence
  2. pp. 361-368
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  1. 3. Filial Beneficence
  2. pp. 369-372
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  1. 4. Aiding the Sick and the Injured
  2. pp. 373-378
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  1. 5. Succor to the Ill-Used and the Endangered
  2. pp. 379-386
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  1. 6. Pecuniary Aid to Relatives and Friends
  2. pp. 387-392
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  1. 7. Relief of the Poor
  2. pp. 393-410
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  1. 8. Social Beneficence
  2. pp. 411-424
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  1. 9. Political Beneficence
  2. pp. 425-436
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  1. 10. Beneficence at Large
  2. pp. 437-448
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  1. Appendices
  2. pp. 449-450
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  1. Appendix A. The Kantian Idea of Rights
  2. pp. 451-454
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  1. Appendix B. The Land Question
  2. pp. 455-460
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  1. Appendix C. The Moral Motive
  2. pp. 461-468
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  1. Appendix D. Conscience in Animals
  2. pp. 469-482
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  1. Appendix E. Replies to Criticisms
  2. pp. 483-504
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  1. References
  2. pp. 505-510
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  1. Index to Volume II
  2. pp. 511-521
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  1. About the Author, Production Notes
  2. pp. 1137-1141
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