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" by Herbert Spencer is a collection of essays written in the late 19th century. This volume includes a variety of topics that explore the intersections of ethics, politics, and society, reflecting the author's philosophical views and critiques on the cultural and moral norms of his time. The essays aim to analyze and discuss the underlying principles governing societal behaviors and institutions, making it a thought-provoking read for those interested in social philosophy. The opening of the volume presents an essay titled "Manners and Fashion," which examines the connection between democratic opinions and personal expression, particularly through unconventional dressing and grooming styles. Spencer observes that individuals who engage in political reform often also display unique or eccentric manners of dress, suggesting that these characteristics reflect a deeper ideological divergence from established norms. He argues that the evolution of societal manners, political systems, and religious practices share a common origin, rooted in the historical interplay of authority and individual freedom, and sets the stage for a broader exploration of how these dynamics continue to shape human behavior and morality in modern society. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Herbert Spencer was an English polymath active as a philosopher, psychologist, biologist, sociologist, and anthropologist. Spencer originated the expression "survival of the fittest", which he coined in Principles of Biology (1864) after reading Charles Darwin's 1859 book On the Origin of Species. The term strongly suggests natural selection, yet Spencer saw evolution as extending into realms of sociology and ethics, so he also supported Lamarckism.