Development and Purpose

work by Hobhouse

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June 25, 2026

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Development and Purpose (1913) is a significant philosophical work by Leonard Trelawny Hobhouse. In this book, Hobhouse aimed to reconcile liberalism with collectivism, believing that social progress could be achieved through a balance of individual fulfillment and universal cooperation.1

Hobhouse's approach to sociology was interdisciplinary, drawing from philosophy, psychology, biology, and anthropology. He was particularly interested in social change and how it contributed to the overall advancement of society. He rejected laissez-faire economics, arguing for the necessity of cooperation, while also critiquing Fabian socialism for potentially leading to stifling bureaucracy. Hobhouse's work sought to understand the development of knowledge, morals, and religions in the context of social evolution.1

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Leonard Trelawny Hobhouse
…The Theory of Knowledge (1896), Development and Purpose (1913), intended as a full statement of his philosophy, and four books collectively entitled The Principles of Sociology. They are The Metaphysical Theory of the State (1918), The Rational Good (1921), The Elements of Social Justice (1922), and Social Development (1924).
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…The Theory of Knowledge (1896), Development and Purpose (1913), intended as a full statement of his philosophy, and four books collectively entitled The Principles of Sociology. They are The Metaphysical Theory of the State (1918), The Rational Good (1921), The Elements of Social Justice (1922), and Social Development (1924).
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