Items related to First Principles Of A New System Of Philosophy

First Principles Of A New System Of Philosophy - Softcover

Herbert Spencer

 
9780461723946: First Principles Of A New System Of Philosophy

Synopsis

First Principles Of A New System Of Philosophy by Herbert Spencer. This densely argued exposition outlines a program to ground a universal philosophy in a small set of enduring principles. Spencer proposes that matter is indestructible, motion is continuous, and force persists and transforms into other forms, providing a unifying explanation for phenomena across cosmos, organisms, minds, and societies. Evolution is described as the integration and differentiation of matter and motion, advancing from an undifferentiated state to definite heterogeneity as forces redistribute. Across astronomy, geology, biology, psychology, sociology, and the arts, examples illustrate how both substance and motion organize into more complex structures through segregation and integration, with rhythms and patterns accompanying growth. The discussion centers on four linked ideas: the instability of the homogeneous, the multiplication of effects, segregation, and equilibration toward moving or complete equilibria, including celestial analogies. It argues for a shared ground between science and religion while treating knowledge as relative, not absolute, and aims to synthesize diverse domains under a single principle of force redistribution.

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