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  • Essays: Scientific, Political, & Speculative; Vol. 3 of 3 Library Edition (1891), Containing Seven Essays not before Republished, and Various other Additions.
Essays: Scientific, Political, & Speculative; Vol. 3 of 3 Library Edition (1891), Containing Seven Essays not before Republished, and Various other Additions.

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Essays: Scientific, Political, & Speculative; Vol. 3 of 3 Library Edition (1891), Containing Seven Essays not before Republished, and Various other Additions.

by Herbert Spencer

EN·~19 hours·19 chapters

Chapters

19 total

ESSAYS: SCIENTIFIC, POLITICAL, & SPECULATIVE.

0:23

CONTENTS OF VOL. III.

0:27

MANNERS AND FASHION.

1:45:37

RAILWAY MORALS AND RAILWAY POLICY.

2:07:39

THE MORALS OF TRADE.

1:21:15

PRISON-ETHICS.

1:24:12

THE ETHICS OF KANT.

54:15

ABSOLUTE POLITICAL ETHICS.

24:23

OVER-LEGISLATION.

1:54:01

REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT—WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?

1:30:02

Description

A striking collection of seven essays, originally unpublished, brings the restless intellect of a 19th‑century philosopher to modern ears. The author moves fluidly between scientific observation, political critique, and speculative thought, using vivid snapshots of Victorian life—such as the way hairstyles and clothing at rallies betray deeper ideological currents—to illustrate larger ideas about conformity and rebellion. His prose is both erudite and conversational, inviting listeners to see how even the smallest social details can echo the tensions of an age.

The volume then widens its scope, tackling subjects as diverse as railway policy, the moral foundations of trade, and the rigorous ethics of Kant. Later pieces examine the dangers of over‑legislation, the purpose of representative government, and the fine line between freedom and bondage in bureaucratic systems. Though rooted in its era, the essays raise timeless questions about authority, reform, and the collective wisdom that still resonate with today’s listeners.

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Full title

Essays: Scientific, Political, & Speculative; Vol. 3 of 3 Library Edition (1891), Containing Seven Essays not before Republished, and Various other Additions. Library Edition (1891), Containing Seven Essays not before Republished, and Various other Additions.

Language

en

Duration

~19 hours (1099K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Josep Cols Canals, Adrian Mastronardi, RichardW, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)

Release date

2017-01-30

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Herbert Spencer

Herbert Spencer

1820–1903

A major Victorian thinker, he tried to explain everything from biology to society as part of one grand evolutionary system. Best remembered today for coining the phrase "survival of the fittest," he was once one of the most widely read philosophers in the English-speaking world.

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