《基本原理》展示了现实中所有领域的演变理论，是斯宾塞哲学理念的系统体现。全书分为上下两篇，上篇共五章，下篇共二十四章。在书中，斯宾塞将客观外在分为“不可知之物”和“可知之物”两个层面，可知之物为现象，不可知之物为本体。上篇论述不可知之物。下篇论述可知之物，主要阐释了现象世界的进化论观点。
导读
Part I The Unknowable
Chapter 1 Religion and Science
Chapter 2 Ultimate Religious Ideas
Chapter 3 Ultimate Scientific Ideas
Chapter 4 The Relativity of All Knowledge
Chapter 5 The Reconciliation
Postscript to Part I
Part II The Knowable
Chapter 1 Philosophy Defined
Chapter 2 The Data of Philosophy
Chapter 3 Space, Time, Matter, Motion, and Force
Chapter 4 The Indestructibility of Matter
Chapter 5 The Continuity of Motion
Chapter 6 The Persistence of Force
Chapter 7 The Persistence of Relations Among Forces
Chapter 8 The Transformation and Equivalence
Chapter 9 The Direction of Motion
Chapter 10 The Rhythm of Motion
Chapter 11 Recapitulation, Criticism, and Recommencement
Chapter 12 Evolution and Dissolution
Chapter 13 Simple and Compound Evolution
Chapter 14 The Law of Evolution
Chapter 15 The Law of Evolution Continued
Chapter 16 The Law of Evolution Continued
Chapter 17 The Law of Evolution Concluded
Chapter 18 The Interpretation of Evolution
Chapter 19 The Instability of the Homogenious: Exemplifying Instability at Large
Chapter 20 The Multiplication of Effects
Chapter 21 Segregation
Chapter 22 Equilibration
Chapter 23 Dissolution
Chapter 24 Summary and Conclusion
术语汇编与简释
