"Since Herbert Spencer's death, there already have appeared many reviews and estimates of his lifework. Their number is likely soon to he increased by the reading of his "Autobiography" which we now have in our hands. The new perspective in which this work enables us to see our philosopher is a sufficient justification for many attempts afresh to sum up and to characterize what he did for philosophical inquiry, and what his influence meant"--Preface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)