The Making of a Man

In The Making of a Man (1892) , James W. Lee argues that the ultimate purpose of creation is the realization of man. The book refutes materialist philosophies by asserting that Mind is "fundamental and prior" to Matter. If matter were primary, man would be meaningless ; instead, the universe is a provision for man's complete nature, structured in chapters. Lee begins with Bread (Physical). The need for food creates commerce , which establishes the social relations essential for human development. Unlike animals, who gain nothing from companionship , men "find themselves by coming together". The ultimate end of all commerce and social relations is "the making of a man".