In his introduction to a 1978 republication of Herbert Spencers long-neglected treatise The Principles of Ethics, Tibor Machan criticizes Spencer for rejecting of the doctrine of free will, advocating altruism, endorsing utilitarianism, and grounding ethics on human evolution. In all four cases, however, Machans objections are wrong or misplaced.
In Defense of Herbert Spencer
By Max Hocutt
This
article
appeared in
the Winter 2007/08 issue of The Independent Review.
Other Independent Review articles by Max Hocutt | ||
Fall 2013 | The Fruits and Fallacies of Fred Skinner on Freedom | |
Summer 2012 | Rights:Rhetoric versus Reality | |
Summer 2005 | Sunstein on Rights | |
[View All (7)] |