ABSTRACT
The part of Mr. Spencer's social philosophy to which he has hitherto given most prominence, and which he has elaborated with most care, is his doctrine of Social Evolution. The idea was put forward by him many years ago in a well-known essay entitled the "Social Organism"; it has since received further elucidation in a discussion with Professor Huxley in this Review; and it has once more been expounded anew, and with fresh illustration, in the present volume. The analogy, therefore, of individual development completely fails the reader, unless, indeed, Mr. Spencer supposes the objectors he is addressing to be standing outside the social organism, and proposing to experiment upon it as upon a foreign body. The range of human history now covers upwards of three thousand years, and presents, in a very incomplete and imperfect manner no doubt, the phenomena of moral, intellectual, religious, and other evolution in numerous societies of men.
