XI. THE CONSENSUS.-Treating of the necessary interdependence of structures and of functions in each type of society, and in the successive phases of social development.* THE PRINCIPLES OF MORALITY. VOL. I. PART I. THE DATA OF MORALITY.-Generalizations furnished by Biology, Psychology and Sociology, which underlie a true theory o right living: in other words, the elements of that equilibrium between constitution and conditions of existence, which is at once the moral ideal and the limit towards which we are progressing. II. THE INDUCTIONS OF MORALITY.-Those empirically-established rules of human action which are registered as essential laws by all civilized nations: that is to say-the generalizations of expediency. III. PERSONAL MORALS.-The principles of private conduct-physical, intellectual, moral and religious-that follow from the conditions to compiete individual life: or, what is the same thing those modes of private action which must result from the eventual equilibration of internal desires and external needs. VOL. II. IV. JUSTICE.-The mutual limitations of men's actions necessitated by their co-existence as units of a society-limitations, the perfect observance of which constitutes that state of equilibrium forming the goal of political progress. V. NEGATIVE BENEFICENCE.-Those secondary limitations, similarly necessitated, which, though less important and not cognizable by law, are yet requisite to prevent mutual destruction of happiness in various indirect ways: in other words-those minor self-restraints dictated by what may be called passive sympathy. Of this treatise on Sociology a few small fragments may be found in alreadypublished essays. Some of the ideas to be developed in Part II. are indicated in an article on "The Social Organism," contained in the last number of the Westminster Review; those which Part V. will work out, may be gathered from the first half of a paper written some years since on "Manners and Fashion;" of Part VIII. the germs are contained in an article on the "Genesis of Science;" two papers on "The Origin and Function of Music" and "The Philosophy of Style,' contain some ideas to be embodied in Part IX. ; and from a criticism of Mr. Bain's work on "The Emotions and the Will," in the last number of the Medico-Chirurgical Review, the central idea to be developed in Part X. may be inferred. VI. POSITIVE BENEFICENCE.-Comprehending all modes of conduct, dictated by active sympathy, which imply pleasure in giving pleasuremodes of conduct that social adaptation has induced and must render ever more general; and which, in becoming universal, must fill to the full the possible measure of human happiness.* In anticipation of the obvious criticism that the scheme here sketched out is too extensive, it may be remarked that an exhaustive treatment of each topic is not intended; but simply the establishment of principles, with such illustrations as are needed to make their bearings fully understood. It may also be pointed out that, besides minor fragments, one large division (The Principles of Psychology) is already, in great part, executed. And at further reply is, that impossible though it may prove to execute the whole, yet nothing can be said against an attempt to set forth the First Principles and to carry their applications as far as cir. cumstances permit. The price per Number to be half-a-crown; that is to say, the four Numbers yearly issued to be severally delivered, post free, to all annual subscribers of Ten Shillings. Part IV. of the Principles of Morality will be co-extensive (though not identical) with the first half of the writer's Social Statics. This Programme I have thought well to reprint for two reasons-the one being that readers may, from time to time, be able to ascertain what topics are next to be dealt with; the other being that an outline of the scheme may remain, in case it should never be completed. The successive instalments of which this volume consists, were issued to the subscribers at the following dates :-Part I. (pp. 1-80) in October, 1860; Part II. (pp. 81-176) in January, 1861; Part III. (pp. 177-256) in April, 1861; Part IV. (pp. 257-334) in October, 1861; Part V. (pp. 335-416) in March, 1862; and Part VI. (pp. 417-504) in June, 1862.* London, June 5th, 1862. These dates and pagings of the divisions as originally issued, of course do not apply to the volume as it now stands, beyond page 123. |