Difference between revisions of "Herbert Spencer"
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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, 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. |
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]]. | 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 had a major influence on British and American thinkers of the 1870s, including such prominent conservatives as [[Andrew Carnegie]] and [[William Graham Sumner]]. Spencer's influence faded in Britain and America after 1900. | + | Spencer had a major influence on world thinkers in Europe, Asia and Latin America, especially British and American thinkers of the 1870s, including such prominent conservatives as [[Andrew Carnegie]] and [[William Graham Sumner]]. Spencer's influence faded in Britain and America after 1900. |
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
* Francis, Mark. ''Herbert Spencer and the Invention of Modern Life.'' (2007) 464p. | * Francis, Mark. ''Herbert Spencer and the Invention of Modern Life.'' (2007) 464p. | ||
* 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. | ||
| + | |||
===Primary sources=== | ===Primary sources=== | ||
* Spencer, Herbert. ''Spencer: Political Writings'' (Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought) edited by John Offer (1993) [http://www.amazon.com/Spencer-Political-Writings-Cambridge-History/dp/0521437407/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222727400&sr=8-4 excerpt and text search] | * Spencer, Herbert. ''Spencer: Political Writings'' (Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought) edited by John Offer (1993) [http://www.amazon.com/Spencer-Political-Writings-Cambridge-History/dp/0521437407/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222727400&sr=8-4 excerpt and text search] | ||
* Spencer, Herbert. ''Social Statics: The Man Versus the State'' | * Spencer, Herbert. ''Social Statics: The Man Versus the State'' | ||
| − | * Spencer, Herbert. '' The study of sociology'' [http://www.amazon.com/study-sociology-Herbert-Spencer/dp/1418188417/ref=pd_bbs_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222727400&sr=8-7 excerpt and text search] | + | * Spencer, Herbert. '' The study of sociology'' [http://www.amazon.com/study-sociology-Herbert-Spencer/dp/1418188417/ref=pd_bbs_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222727400&sr=8-7 excerpt and text search]; aslo [http://www.questia.com/read/96277756?title=The%20Study%20of%20Sociology full text online free] |
* Spencer, Herbert. ''The Principles of Psychology'' [http://www.amazon.com/Principles-Psychology-1-Herbert-Spencer/dp/1402182716/ref=pd_bbs_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222727400&sr=8-8 excerpt and text search]; [http://books.google.com/books?id=hTBVAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:herbert+inauthor:spencer&lr=&num=30&as_brr=3 full text online] | * Spencer, Herbert. ''The Principles of Psychology'' [http://www.amazon.com/Principles-Psychology-1-Herbert-Spencer/dp/1402182716/ref=pd_bbs_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222727400&sr=8-8 excerpt and text search]; [http://books.google.com/books?id=hTBVAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:herbert+inauthor:spencer&lr=&num=30&as_brr=3 full text online] | ||
| − | * Spencer, Herbert. | + | * Spencer, Herbert. ''Social Statics, Abridged and Revised: Together with the Man Versus the State'' (1896), highly influential among libertarians [http://www.questia.com/read/96054973?title=Social%20Statics%2c%20Abridged%20and%20Revised%3a%20Together%20with%20the%20Man%20Versus%20the%20State full text online free] |
* 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] | ||
Revision as of 22:55, September 29, 2008
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.
He was a defender of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, and coined the terms "the Survival of the fittest"[1] 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
Spencer had a major influence on world thinkers in Europe, Asia and Latin America, especially British and American thinkers of the 1870s, including such prominent conservatives as Andrew Carnegie and William Graham Sumner. Spencer's influence faded in Britain and America after 1900.
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.
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.
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
- Francis, Mark. Herbert Spencer and the Invention of Modern Life. (2007) 464p.
- Taylor, Michael W. The Philosophy of Herbert Spencer (Continuum Studies in British Philosophy) (2007) excerpt and text search
- Weinstein, David. Equal Freedom and Utility: Herbert Spencer's Liberal Utilitarianism. (1998) 235p.
Primary sources
- Spencer, Herbert. Spencer: Political Writings (Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought) edited by John Offer (1993) excerpt and text search
- Spencer, Herbert. Social Statics: The Man Versus the State
- Spencer, Herbert. The study of sociology excerpt and text search; aslo full text online free
- Spencer, Herbert. The Principles of Psychology excerpt and text search; full text online
- Spencer, Herbert. Social Statics, Abridged and Revised: Together with the Man Versus the State (1896), highly influential among libertarians full text online free
- Spencer, Herbert. Education: Intellectual, Moral, and Physical (1891) 283pp
- Spencer, Herbert. An Autobiography (1905, 2 vol) full text online
Notes
- ↑ fit - meaning suitable, or the right size and shape, not fit as in athletically strong (although some have inferred this interpretation).