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'''Herbert Spencer''' (April 27, 1820 – December 8, 1903) was a highly influential [[English]] [[philosopher]] and  [[political theorist]]. He had an encyclopedic range, writing on topics of government, ethics, education, economics, sociology, biology, psychology and anthropology. He originated some of the ideas of evolution picked up by [[Charles Darwin]].  Spencer's main theme was that powerful forces of social evolution were systematically making mankind better and better.  In politics he was a 19th century liberal--similar to modern libertarians--who opposed to government intervention of any sort and provided the arguments that conservatives still use to oppose socialist and liberal proposals.

'''Herbert Spencer''' (April 27, 1820 – December 8, 1903) was a highly influential [[English]] [[philosopher]] and  [[political theorist]]. He had an encyclopedic range, writing on topics of government, ethics, education, economics, sociology, biology, psychology and anthropology. He originated some of the ideas of evolution picked up by [[Charles Darwin]].  Spencer's main theme was that powerful forces of social evolution were systematically making mankind better and better.  In politics he was a 19th century liberal--similar to modern libertarians--who opposed to government intervention of any sort and provided the arguments that conservatives still use to oppose socialist and liberal proposals. He is most famous as a champion of individualism and his rejection of any form of collectivism.

 

==Life==

==Life==

Spencer was born into a poor but well-educated family. He was home-schooled by his father and his uncle Thomas Spencer, an evangelical clergyman who had been educated at Cambridge University. Starting at age 17 he spent four years as a civil engineer building railways, and the highly systematic engineering mode of analysis characterized his intellectual approaches. He never married.

Spencer was born into a poor but well-educated family. He was home-schooled by his father and his uncle Thomas Spencer, an evangelical clergyman who had been educated at Cambridge University. Starting at age 17 he spent four years as a civil engineer building railways, and the highly systematic engineering mode of analysis characterized his intellectual approaches. He never married.

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 was an early contributor to 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's individualistic version has nothing in common with collectivist forms of "social darwinism" that promoted a war to the death among races, as the Nazis preached.

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==