New York
MACMILLAN & CO.
AND LONDON
1893
All rights reserved
Copyright, 1892,
By MACMILLAN & CO.
Typography by J. S. Cushing & Co., Boston, U.S.A.
Presswork by Berwick & Smith, Boston, U.S.A.
TO MY FIRST TEACHER OF MORALS
MY MOTHER
THIS BOOK IS GRATEFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY
DEDICATED
Of the Ethics founded on the theory of Evolution, I have considered onlythe independent theories which have been elaborated to systems. I haveomitted consideration of many works which bear on Evolutional Ethics aspractical or exhortative treatises, or compilations of facts, but whichinvolve no distinctly worked-out theory of morals. On the other hand, Ihave ventured to include Professor von Gizycki's "Moralphilosophie"among the theoretical systems founded upon the theory of Evolution,since, although the popular form of the work renders the prominence ofthe latter theory impracticable, the warp of Evolution is clearlyperceptible throughout it. In analyzing Höffding's work, I have made usenot of the Danish but the German edition of his "Ethics," which wastranslated with his coöperation.
It is generally customary for an author to acknowledge, in the prefaceof his book, his especial indebtedness to those who have most influencedthe growth of his thought in the line of research treated in the book.But I find this duty a difficult one to perform. Many of the authorswhose work has aided me are cited in the text. But it is impossible,with regard to many points, to say to whom one is indebted, or mostindebted, since much that one reads is so assimilated into one'sorganized thought, and changed in the process of assimilation, that itssource and original form are no longer remembered. Besides this, much isalways owed to personal influence and argument, and also to indefiniteand minute forces whose workings it is impossible to trace. The[Pg viii] growthof thought is, like any other growth, by imperceptible degrees andinfinitesimal increments, and we breathe in ideas from our mentalatmosphere as we breathe in perfumes or infections from our physicalatmosphere. It is, of course, unnecessary to mention Mr. Spencer's namein this connection, since it goes without saying, that every one whowrites on Ethics in their relation to the Theory of Evolution must owemuch to him, even where he differs from him. But there is perhaps onename which it is fitting that I should mention here, since the influenceof its bearer on my work, although one for which I have reason to feelpeculiarly indebted, is not of a nature to determine its mention inconnection with any particular theory. I refer to my first teacher ofPhilosophy, Professor M. Stuart Phelps, now deceased, whose life andlabor all those who had the privilege of sharing his instruction andbenefiting by his kindness must ever hold in grateful remembrance.
PART I
PAGES
Introductory Remarks 1-2
Darwin 2-12
Wallace 12-23
...