In his introduction to a 1978 republication of Herbert Spencer’s 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, Machan’s objections are wrong or misplaced.

Max Hocutt is Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at the University of Alabama.
EconomistsEconomyGovernment and PoliticsLaw and LibertyPhilosophy and ReligionPolitical Theory
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
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