Moral Science; a Compendium of Ethics (eBook)

Alexander Bain (1818–1903) was a prominent Scottish philosopher and educationalist of the 19th century who made significant contributions to the fields of philosophy, psychology, and pedagogy. A prolific writer and thinker, Bain was instrumental in establishing and advancing the study of the mind through empirical research, a practice that laid early groundwork for the field of psychology. Perhaps most well-known in the domain of ethics is his treatise 'Moral Science; a Compendium of Ethics' (1860), which provided a systematic account of ethical principles based on utilitarian lines, reinforcing the association of morality with human well-being and social utility. Bain's approach in this book reflects his overall empirical and associative philosophy, where he emphasizes the role of the human experience in the understanding of moral conduct. His writings often gave particular attention to the importance of education, aiming to improve practical teaching methods and grounding them in a scientific understanding of the human mind. Bain's intellectual pursuits were closely connected with the tradition of British empiricism, and he was greatly influenced by the works of John Stuart Mill. Through his broad philosophical perspective, Bain contributed significantly to Victorian intellectual life, leaving a lasting impact on the development of modern disciplines concerned with human behavior and morality.