Category
Ethics
Herbert Spencer
The Principles of Ethics, vol. 2
Spencer considered <i>The Principles of Ethics</i> to be his finest work. In the second volume he covers the ethics of social life (or justice), negative beneficence, positive beneficence, and a number of topics in several appendices (such as Kant’s theory of rights, land ownership, and animal rights). In the large section on “Justice” he discusses property rights, free exchange, free speech, the rights of women and children, and the nature of the state.
Open the reader →Herbert Spencer
The Principles of Ethics, vol. 1
Vol. I of a two volume work which Spencer considered to be his finest work. In volume I he covers the data of ethics, the inductions of ethics, and the ethics of individual life. [Read the Liberty Classic](https://www.econlib.org/library/Columns/y2019/MingardiSpencerethics.html) on this title from Econlib.
Open the reader →Samuel Smiles
Self Help; with Illustrations of Character and Conduct
An early Victorian self-help book that combines Victorian morality with sound free market ideas into moral tales showing the benefits of thrift, hard work, education, perseverance, and a sound character. Smiles drew upon the personal success stories of the emerging self-made millionaires in the pottery industry (Josiah Wedgwood), the railway industry (Watt and Stephenson), and the weaving industry (Jacquard) to make his point that the benefits of the market were open to anyone.
Open the reader →Herbert Spencer
The Principles of Ethics, 2 vols.
A two volume work which Spencer considered to be his finest work. In volume I he covers the data of ethics, the inductions of ethics, and the ethics of individual life. In the second volume he covers the ethics of social life (or justice), negative beneficence, positive beneficence, and a number of topics in several appendices (such as Kant’s theory of rights, land ownership, and animal rights).
Open the reader →Herbert Spencer
The Data of Ethics
Spencer continues his exploration of individualist moral philosophy in this book. He examines the nature of human conduct, different ways in which conduct might be judged, the conflict between egoism and altruism, and what he calls absolute ethics.
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