Summary:
"The Spirit of the Age; Or, Contemporary Portraits" by William Hazlitt is a collection of essays written in the early 19th century that critiques and analyzes the lives and philosophies of notable contemporary figures. The book serves as a social commentary, capturing the essence of the intellectual climate during Hazlitt's time, examining individuals such as Jeremy Bentham and William Godwin, and their contributions to philosophy, literature, and politics. At the start of the book, Hazlitt introduces the portrait of Jeremy Bentham, emphasizing his intellectual stature despite his relative obscurity in England. He portrays Bentham as a visionary thinker—a “prophet” whose ideas resonate more strongly abroad than at home. Hazlitt meticulously outlines Bentham's main philosophies, particularly his principle of Utility, and critiques the limitations of his reasoning as it relates to human nature and morality. The opening sets a critical tone, highlighting not just the thoughts of these figures but also how they represent the broader societal and philosophical currents of the age, positioning the reader to reflect on the impact of these contemporaries within the framework of moral and intellectual development. (This is an automatically generated summary.)