The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-23
The influence of Herbert spencer,


of a remarkably well-written book by
Hector Macpherson, the author of lives
of Thomas Carlyle and Adam
Smith," giving the principal events
in the life of Herbert Spencer and
showing the development of his mind and
the influence which his philosophy has
had on the life of his time
There is great deal that is valuable in
this book, chiefly because it is that unu-
sual thing, a biography by a man who
has the creative faculty, who thinks as
well as records facts, and who can see
something else in the world besides his
subject. Mr.. Macpherson not only has
q clear conception of the character of
Spencer, but he sees the forces which
made the English philosopher what he
is. and the way in which he became
a force acting upon nineteenth CEN
fury thought. His influence is, as the
biographer remarks. greater for a time
in America than in England, and for that
reason the present work should be of es-
pecial interest TO readers in this country.
There is fine passage in the first chap
ter of the book which is significant, not
only as part of the work, but intrinsic
ally. 1t also defines the scope of the biog-
raphy and the attitude of the author so
well that 1t is worth quoting for that
reason:
The dominating idea of the last half OF the
nineteenth century is Evolution-an idea so far
reaching in its influence, so memeric in its
power, that at its touch all other ideas crystal
lie round it and, II by magic, yield to its
potent sway. The thinker with whom history
will impartially associate the idea of evolution
is Herbert Spencer. Perhaps in sphere has
the influence of the evolution theory been more
indirectly potent than in biography. 50 long "a
man was treated as an eStra-mundane creation
there was natural tendency to concentrate at
tention upon the dramatic and incaculable sides
OF his nature. Emphasis laid upon the in
psychical factors to the exclusion of those
physical conditions which play such a prominent
part in human development Great men, in the
language of Carlyle, were messengers of the Eter-
Dal-messengers who SO dominated their environ
ment TO battle all attempts at explanation ana
Classification. ignorance OF the law OF evolution
naturally led to uninselligent hero-worsaip
which blinded the intellect TO the subtle rela-
lions existing between man and his surroundings.
Herbert Spencer changed all that. His ''PTin-
ciples Of Biology" foreshadowed conception OF
biography in which the great man would no
longer be viewed as an incomprehensible incar-
nation OF supernatural energy, but the product
OF certain interpretable forces. Between the
trage and the great man the difference is
mainly thistle one remains passive, while the
other, has already been said, reacts upon
environment, therebE unlocking new forces
and giving fresh impetus to progress. In com
ing the study Of Herbert Spencer, we cannot
do better than use for purpoees OF geographic
Interpretation his far-re ching principles
Before seeking to understand Spencer the phil
osopher it is Necessary 10 understand Spencer
the man.
Mr.. Macpherson contradicts the state
ment, which has been frequently made,
that Spencer, when a young man, had a
quarrel with his uncle because he did Eot
wish the latter TO send him to Cambridge.
and says that both uncle and nephew per-
ceived that a university career was not
tust what would suit the latter's peculiar
talents. 1t is not amiss to quote what the
biographer says in this connection, since
It throws light on the effect which uni
yersity training sometimes has on minds
which are not fitted for it:
Much has been said OF the loss which Spencer
has sustained through exclusion from the atmos-
pbere and training OF university life In dealing
with exceptional minds. whose evolution Is pre-
determined along original lines by innate capae-
fly and genius, good purpose is served by
sppeang TO general rules which from the ma
ture OF the deal only with the expected
and the calculable, not with these outstanding
Municipalities which defy the ordinary laws OF
averages and probabilities. One drawback Ger
tainly WAS attached to Spencer's exclusion from
university life He was compelled to face not
only hostile public, but the insidious oppo-
sition of university cliques, who could not bear
70 sec a thinker Of commanding power
step forward into the intellectual arena without
the hallmark of university culture. Had Spencer
been the centre of an adEnirirG group OF uni
versity disciples his system would have come into
vogue much earlier; it would, In other words,
have become fashionable. As IL was, after the
gradual decay of homemade philosophers Hegel
became the idol Of university circles, and Spen-
Ger was left, voice crying in the wilderness.
Notwithstanding all this, Spencer gained more
than he lost by missing the conventional uni
ye1sity training. However reluctant the Rey.
Mr.. Spencer was TO abandon his deeply cherished
design, he admitted in after years that in fol-
lowing the promptings Of nature his nephew had
acted wisely. He doubtless that the very
Quall,.s= ~hich untitled his nephew for the rou-
Cine OF a classic4i curriculum precisely the
qualities which gave him his greatest superiority
in science and philosophy. grinding in dead
languages and a saturstion in Old World meth
DDS and ideas might have seriously checked the
faculties for observation, and massive generaii-
cation, which, when left to develop naturally,
have made their posscssor an unriyaled king
IN quite a new intellectual sphere. in which
stand in unique conjunction the widest specula-
tive thought and unparalleled analytic power.
In short, the only people in whose esti-
nation Spencer is lowered by not being
university man are the small people, with
out whose good opinion most great men
can afford to exist.
After sketch Of Spencer's early life
she author goes on to discuss the intel
lectual environment which was his during
the formative years of early manhood. The
thinkers Of the period preceding and in
GLIDING the French Revolution were, 1t is
pointed out, discredited in English minds
by the diabolism of the Reign of Terror.
The time was ripe for q new philosophy, |
strictly scientific IN its nature, and that
was what Spencer furnished. While not
Positiyist, his philosophy has much in
common with the school of Comte. He is
Comte Eithout the French philosophers
extravaganza and Inconsistency.
The chapter on Personal Characters
tics" contains one or two particularly in
teresting incidents, some OF which con-
Germ Spencer's acquaintance with George
Eliot. There was story current at the
time of this acquaintance that George
Henry Lewes ssfplanted Spencer in the
affections OF George Eliot, but the present
ntographer absolutely denies this and SAYS
that the friendship between the novelist
and the philosopher was devoid of any ro-
nance whatever. This is most likely
Their temperaments we're altogether toe
much alike in come ways to make il likely
that they would fall in love with each
other, but the conventional world of that
day-ane, indeed, of this-was slow to put
any other Interpretation upon q friendship
between gifted man and woman At any
rate, this is what Lewes has to say in his
diary concerning the acquaintance:
January %. ls5s.-walked along the Thames
toward Kew TO meet Herbert Spencer who was to
spend the day with US, and We chstted with him
On matters personal and philosophical. |
him debt % gratitude Ny acquaintance with
him was the brightest ray in very dreary
wasted period Of my life ! had given up all
ambition whatever, lived from hand to mouth
and thought the evil ofe acb day e,,Aiciart 11,s