Robert S. Hamilton

“ But with what propriety can a book be called old, or antiquated in character, that deals almost exclusively, and that, too, with almost unqualified approbation and accord, with the views of such recent and highly-advanced thinkers as Guizot and Hallam, Sismondi and Mill, Cousin, Buckle, Comte, and Herbert Spencer? ”

“ Weeks and even months then elapsed before the purpose of doing so revived in his mind, under the conviction that such a course was due, not only to himself, but to the momentous theme, which he has made the theme of his life, and on which he feels a strong assurance that he has some suggestions to offer, some great universal truths, great fundamental laws of social life, to announce, that are calculated to exert an important influence on the cause of knowledge and human advancement. ”

“ What would our critic think if any one should undertake to judge Mr. Spencer, either as a sociologist or a general scientist, solely by his fundamental postulate that all evolution is from the homogeneous to the heterogeneous? ”

“ But the plea of our critic, which is plausible only on its face, is, that it was unfair, unjust, thus to attack Mr. Spencer, when his views had not as yet been fully presented to the world. On this point, which is the main point, he says: "An example of the antiquated and unreliable character of the work is afforded by the author's treatment of the most eminent thinker of the times on problems of social science. Mr. Herbert Spencer is judged as a sociologist by his views developed in 'Social Statics;' how justly will appear from the fact that 'Social Statics' was Mr. ”