husband's rights, p. 659.—The offended woman may count upon the support

of her fellow-sisters, ibid.-The children's affection and regard for their

mother gives her power, ibid.-The influence which economic conditions

exercise on the position of woman, pp. 659-661.-The status of wives

connected with the ideas held about the female sex in general, p. 661.-

Woman regarded as intellectually and morally vastly inferior to man,

especially among nations more advanced in culture, pp. 661–663.-Progress

in civilisation has exercised an unfavourable influence on the position of

woman by widening the gulf between the sexes, p. 663.-Religion has

contributed to her degradation by regarding her as unclean, p. 663 sq.-

Women excluded from religious worship and sacred functions, pp. 664–666.

-The notion that woman is unclean, however, gives her a secret power over
her husband, as women are supposed to be better versed in magic than men,
pp. 666-668.—The curses of women greatly feared, p. 668.-Woman as an
asylum, p. 668 sq.-In archaic civilisation the status of married women was
affected by the fact that the house-father was invested with some part of the
power which formerly belonged to the clan, p. 669.-Causes of the decrease
of the husband's authority over his wife in modern civilisation, ibid.

CHAPTER XXVII

SLAVERY

Definition of slavery, p. 670 sq.-The distribution of slavery and its causes among

savages, pp. 671-674.-The earliest source of slavery was probably war or

conquest, p. 674 sq.-Intra-tribal slavery among savages, p. 675 sq.-The

master's power over his slave among slave-holding savages, pp. 676-678.

Among the lower races slaves are generally treated kindly, pp. 678-680.-

Intra-tribal slaves, especially such as are born in the house, generally treated

better than extra-tribal or purchased slaves, p. 680 sq.-Slavery among the

nations of archaic culture, pp. 681-693.—The attitude of Christianity

towards slavery, pp. 693-700.-The supposed causes of the extinction of

slavery in Europe, pp. 697-701.-The chief cause the transformation of

slavery into serfdom, p. 701.-Serfdom only a transitory condition leading up

to a state of entire liberty, pp. 701-703.-The attitude of the Church towards

serfdom, p. 703 sq.-The negro slavery in the colonies of European

countries and the Southern States of America, and the legislation relating to

it, pp. 704-711.-The support given to it by the clergy, pp. 711-713.-The

want of sympathy for, or positive antipathy to, the coloured race, p. 713 sq.

-The opinions regarding slavery and the condition of slaves influenced by

altruistic considerations, p. 714 sq.-The condition of slaves influenced by the

selfish considerations of their masters, p. 715 sq.

THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT

OF THE MORAL IDEAS

THE main object of this book will perhaps be best explained by a few words concerning its origin.

Its author was once discussing with some friends the point how far a bad man ought to be treated with kindness. The opinions were divided, and, in spite of much deliberation, unanimity could not be attained. It seemed strange that the disagreement should be so radical, and the question arose, Whence this diversity of opinion? Is it due to defective knowledge, or has it a merely sentimental origin? And the problem gradually expanded. Why do the moral ideas in general differ so greatly? And, on the other hand, why is there in many cases such a wide agreement? Nay, why are there any moral ideas at all?

Since then many years have passed, spent by the author in trying to find an answer to these questions. The present work is the result of his researches and thoughts.

The first part of it will comprise a study of the moral concepts right, wrong, duty, justice, virtue, merit, &c. Such a study will be found to require an examination into the moral emotions, their nature and origin, as also into the relations between these emotions and the various

VOL. I

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