Page:Philosophical Review Volume 1.djvu/95



Justice: being Part IV of the Principles of Ethics. By. New York: D. Appleton & Company. 1891. — pp. vi, 291.

Mr. Spencer has been the herald of the age of Industrialism. The fulfilment of its cardinal obligation, to work, is conspicuously illustrated in the production of the present volume. The author says: "Years of declining health and decreasing power of work brought, in 1886, a complete collapse; and further elaboration of The Synthetic Philosophy was suspended until the beginning of 1890." The work before us is the first-fruits of a partially restored health and energy. The civilized world will congratulate Mr. Spencer alike on his returning vitality and on his fresh productivity. May both be continued!

In his preface to the Data of Ethics, published in 1879, Mr. Spencer informed his readers that all other parts of his Philosophy were subsidiary to Ethics; that his "ultimate purpose, lying behind all proximate purposes, has been that of finding for the principles of right and wrong in conduct at large a scientific basis." To the prosecution of this task he now devotes his " remaining energies," beginning with the part of most importance. This is "Justice," which is Part IV of the Principles of Morality. Of the other divisions, Part I, "Data," has already appeared; Part II, "The Inductions of Ethics," and Part III, "The Ethics of Individual Life," will, it is hoped, be issued before the close of next year; Part V, "Negative Beneficence," and Part VI, "Positive Beneficence," will then receive attention, provided the author is able to continue the work.

This volume on "Justice," which consists of twenty- nine chapters and four appendixes, falls into three main divisions: the first devoted to the determination of Justice, the second to the Rights deducible from it, and the third to the nature, constitution, and proper functions of the State.

As human life is a further development of sub-human life, the biological moralist naturally regards human Justice as a further development of sub-human Justice; and this we are to discover in the struggle for life and survival of the fittest. Is it not a fact that, apart from gratis benefits to offspring, the members of animal species receive benefits and evils directly proportionate to their powers of self-sustentation? "This, Rh