ABSTRACT

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) was regarded by the Victorians as the foremost philosopher of the age, the prophet of evolution at a time when the idea had gripped the popular imagination. Until recently Spencer's posthumous reputation rested almost excusively on his social and political thought, which has itself frequently been subject to serious misrepresentation. But historians of ideas now recognise that an acquaintance with Spencer's thought is essential for the proper understanding of many aspects of Victorian intellectual life, and the present selection is designed to answer this need. It provides a cross-section of Spencer's works from his more popular and approachable essays to a number of the volumes of the Synthetic Philosophy itself. This is Volume II.

chapter |73 pages

The Genesis of Science.

chapter |44 pages

The Classification of the Sciences.

chapter |7 pages

The Valuation of Evidence.

chapter |20 pages

What is Electricity?

chapter |30 pages

Mill versus Hamilton—The Test of Truth.

chapter |103 pages

Replies to Criticisms.

chapter |12 pages

Prof. Green’s Explanations.

chapter |37 pages

The Philosophy of Style.

chapter |5 pages

Use and Beauty.

chapter |6 pages

The Sources of Architectural Types.

chapter |6 pages

Gracefulness.

chapter |13 pages

Personal Beauty.

chapter |52 pages

The Origin and Function of Music.

chapter |15 pages

The Physiology of Laughter.