ENGLISH MEN OF SCIENCE
EDITED BY
J. REYNOLDS GREEN, D.Sc.
HERBERT SPENCER
HERBERT SPENCER
BY
J. ARTHUR THOMSON, M.A.
REGIUS PROFESSOR OF NATURAL HISTORY IN
THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN
AUTHOR OF
THE STUDY OF ANIMAL LIFE; THE SCIENCE OF LIFE;
OUTLINES OF ZOOLOGY; PROGRESS OF SCIENCE;
ETC. ETC.
PUBLISHED IN LONDON BY
J. M. DENT & CO. AND IN NEW
YORK BY E. P. DUTTON & CO.
1906
CONTENTS
PAGE
Introduction vii
CHAP.
I. Heredity 1
II. Nurture 7
III. Period of Practical Work 17
IV. Preparation for Life-Work 27
V. Thinking out the Synthetic Philosophy 37
VI. Characteristics: Physical and Intellectual 52
VII. Characteristics: Emotional and Ethical 74
VIII. Spencer as Biologist: The Data ofBiology 93
IX. Spencer as Biologist: Inductions ofBiology 110
X. Spencer as Champion of the Evolution-Idea 135
XI. As regards Heredity 154
XII. Factors of Organic Evolution 180
XIII. Evolution Universal 209
XIV. Psychological 232
XV. Sociological 242
XVI. The Population Question 259
XVII. Beyond Science 269
Conclusion 278
Index 283
INTRODUCTION
This volume attempts to give a short account ofHerbert Spencer's life, an appreciation