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Line 9: − Herbert Spencer died of poor health in 1903. He asked to be buried in the [[Highgate Cemetery]] of [[London]] so that he would be facing the grave of [[Karl Marx]], the founder of the [[Communist]] movement. A fair number of people travel each year to pay their respects to Marx and Spencer. − + + + Line 24:
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'''Herbert Spencer''' (April 27, 1820 – December 8, 1903) was an [[English]] [[philosopher]] and prominent [[liberal]] [[political theorist]]. He had an encyclopedic range, writing on topics of politics, ecoomics, sociology, biology, psychology and anthropology. His main theme was that powerful forces of social evolution were systematically making mankind better and better. In politics he was a libertarian opposed to government intervention of any sort.
'''Herbert Spencer''' (April 27, 1820 – December 8, 1903) was an [[English]] [[philosopher]] and prominent [[liberal]] [[political theorist]]. He had an encyclopedic range, writing on topics of politics, ecoomics, sociology, biology, psychology and anthropology. His main theme was that powerful forces of social evolution were systematically making mankind better and better. In politics he was a libertarian opposed to government intervention of any sort.
==Religion==
He was a defender of [[Charles Darwin]]'s theory of [[evolution]], and coined the terms "the [[Survival of the fittest]]"<ref>''fit'' - meaning suitable, or the right size and shape, '''not''' ''fit'' as in athletically strong (although some have inferred this interpretation).</ref> and "the Descent of Man." Spencer, like many scientists of the time, was a [[deist]], which is to say he did not believe in [[God]] ''per se'', but only in ''a'' god. Eventually, Spencer became an [[agnostic]].
Although raised in a devout Methodist family, he never joined achurchn. He was a defender of [[Charles Darwin]]'s theory of [[evolution]], and coined the terms "the [[Survival of the fittest]]"<ref>''fit'' - meaning suitable, or the right size and shape, '''not''' ''fit'' as in athletically strong (although some have inferred this interpretation).</ref> and "the Descent of Man." Spencer, like many scientists of the time, was a [[deist]], which is to say he did not believe in [[God]] ''per se'', but only in ''a'' god. Eventually, Spencer became an [[agnostic]].
==Influence==
==Influence==
Spencer is largely remembered today for his theories of [[social Darwinism]], the idea that evolutionary ideas applied to societies as well as people. Spencer developed his ideas before Darwin, and "social darwinism" dealt only with the progressive betterment of human society.
Spencer is largely remembered today for his theories of [[social Darwinism]], the idea that evolutionary ideas applied to societies as well as people. Spencer developed his ideas before Darwin, and "social darwinism" dealt only with the progressive betterment of human society.
==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
Carneiro, Robert L. and Perrin, Robert G." Herbert Spencer's 'Principles of Sociology:' a Centennial Restrospective and Appraisal." ''Annals of Science'' 2002 59(3): 221-261 online at Ebsco
* Carneiro, Robert L. and Perrin, Robert G." Herbert Spencer's 'Principles of Sociology:' a Centennial Restrospective and Appraisal." ''Annals of Science'' 2002 59(3): 221-261 online at Ebsco
* Duncan, David. ''The life and letters of Herbert Spencer'' (1908) [http://books.google.com/books?id=trlCAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=intitle:herbert+intitle:spencer&lr=&num=30&as_brr=3 online edition]
* Francis, Mark. ''Herbert Spencer and the Invention of Modern Life.'' (2007) 464p.
* Francis, Mark. ''Herbert Spencer and the Invention of Modern Life.'' (2007) 464p.
* Harris, Jose. "Spencer, Herbert (1820–1903)", ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography,''(2004) [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/36208 online], a standard short biography
* Taylor, Michael W. ''The Philosophy of Herbert Spencer'' (Continuum Studies in British Philosophy) (2007) [http://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Herbert-Spencer-Continuum-Studies/dp/0826487238/ref=pd_bbs_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222727400&sr=8-11 excerpt and text search]
* Taylor, Michael W. ''The Philosophy of Herbert Spencer'' (Continuum Studies in British Philosophy) (2007) [http://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Herbert-Spencer-Continuum-Studies/dp/0826487238/ref=pd_bbs_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222727400&sr=8-11 excerpt and text search]
* Weinstein, David. ''Equal Freedom and Utility: Herbert Spencer's Liberal Utilitarianism.'' (1998) 235p.
* Weinstein, David. ''Equal Freedom and Utility: Herbert Spencer's Liberal Utilitarianism.'' (1998) 235p.
* Spencer, Herbert. ''Education: Intellectual, Moral, and Physical'' (1891) 283pp
* Spencer, Herbert. ''Education: Intellectual, Moral, and Physical'' (1891) 283pp
* Spencer, Herbert. ''An Autobiography'' (1905, 2 vol) [http://books.google.com/books?id=gUozqCwTGkEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:herbert+inauthor:spencer&lr=&num=30&as_brr=3 full text online]
* Spencer, Herbert. ''An Autobiography'' (1905, 2 vol) [http://books.google.com/books?id=gUozqCwTGkEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:herbert+inauthor:spencer&lr=&num=30&as_brr=3 full text online]
* [http://books.google.com/books?as_q=&num=30&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_brr=3&lr=&as_vt=&as_auth=herbert+spencer&as_pub=&as_sub=&as_drrb=c&as_miny=&as_maxy=&as_isbn= online writings of Spencer]
==Notes==
==Notes==
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