The Online Library of Liberty

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• Herbert Spencer
• Introduction
• Select Bibliography
• Original Preface to Education: Intellectual, Moral, and Physical
• Spencer’s Essays
• Part I—: On Education: Intellectual, Moral, and Physical
• What Knowledge Is of Most Worth?
• Intellectual Education
• Moral Education
• Physical Education
• Part II: Essays On Kindred Subjects
• Progress: Its Law and Cause 1
• On Manners and Fashion 1
• On the Genesis of Science 1
• On the Physiology of Laughter 1
• On the Origin and Function of Music 1

ORIGINAL PREFACE TO EDUCATION: INTELLECTUAL, MORAL, AND PHYSICAL

The four chapters of which this work consists, originally appeared as four Review-articles: the first in the Westminster Review for July 1859; the second in the North British Review for May 1854; and the remaining two in the British Quarterly Review for April 1858 and for April 1859. Severally treating different divisions of the subject, but together forming a tolerably complete whole, I originally wrote them with a view to their republication in a united form; and they would some time since have thus been issued, had not a legal difficulty stood in the way. This difficulty being now removed, I hasten to fulfil the intention with which they were written.

That in their first shape these chapters were severally independent, is the reason to be assigned for some slight repetitions which occur in them: one leading idea, more especially, reappearing twice. As, however, this idea is on each occasion presented under a new form, and as it can scarcely be too much enforced, I have not thought well to omit any of the passages embodying it.

Some additions of importance will be found in the chapter on Intellectual Education; and in the one on Physical Education there are a few minor alterations. But the chief changes which have been made, are changes of expression: all of the essays having undergone a careful verbal revision.

H. S.

London, May 1861