Principles of Ethics

Principles of Ethics Synopsis

Though almost forgotten today,Herbert Spencer ranks as one of the foremost individualist philosophers. Hisinfluence in the latter half of the nineteenth century was immense.Spencers name is usually linkedwith Darwins, for it was he who penned the phrase, survival of the fittest.Today in America he is most often admired for his trenchant essays in TheMan Versus the State. But Spencer himself considered The Principlesof Ethics to be his finest work. In the second volume, under Justice,is his final statement on the role of the state. His formula for justice issummed up in these words: Every man is free to do that which he wills,provided he infringes not the equal freedom of any other man.