Herbert Spencer
English philosopher and sociologist (1820–1903) who coined "survival of the fittest".
At a glance
Main ideas
Evolution of everything, Natural consequences, A shrinking state …
See all 5Books to start with
Social Statics, Education: Intellectual, Moral, and Physical, First Principles …
See all 4Connections
Charles Darwin, William Graham Sumner and 4 others
See all 6
Also on this page: Key facts · Links · Sources · Related pages
- Spencer was an English polymath who wrote on philosophy, psychology, biology, sociology and ethics.
- He coined "survival of the fittest" in Principles of Biology (1864) after reading Darwin, and saw evolution as the progressive development of everything from organisms to societies.
- His System of Synthetic Philosophy took him almost forty years.
- He argued against state action such as compulsory education, poor relief and welfare reform, and opposed imperialism and militarism.
- By the 1870s he was the most famous philosopher of the age; his influence declined sharply after 1900.
Why it matters
- His name is often taken as close to synonymous with Social Darwinism, and libertarian and conservative writers still draw on his attacks on reform.
Key facts
- Born
- 27 Apr 1820, Derby, Derbyshire, England1
- Died
- 8 Dec 19031
- Education
- Largely self-taught; taught science by his father and mathematics, physics and some Latin by his uncle1
- Early work
- Civil engineer in the railway boom of the late 1830s; sub-editor at The Economist from 1848 to 18531
- Circle
- John Chapman's salon (John Stuart Mill, Harriet Martineau, George Eliot); lifelong friend of T. H. Huxley; member of the X Club1
- Nobel nomination
- Nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 19021
- Buried
- Highgate Cemetery, London, facing Karl Marx's grave1
Main ideas
-
Evolution of everything1
Evolution is the progressive development of the physical world, organisms, the mind, culture and societies.
-
Natural consequences1
People must experience the natural consequences of their conduct; state relief of poverty breaks that link.
-
A shrinking state1
The state is not essential and will decay as voluntary market organisation replaces its coercive parts.
-
Science is the knowledge of most worth2
Education should prepare people for "complete living", and science serves that better than classical languages.
-
Against imperialism1
He opposed imperialism and militarism all his life; his attack on the Boer War cost him popularity.
Books to start with
The line under a date fills as it gets older: empty when new, full at 2 years.
-
Social Statics1
His first book; it predicted that the state would wither away as people adapted to social life.
-
Education: Intellectual, Moral, and Physical2
Four essays arguing for science, pleasurable learning and natural consequences in bringing up children.
-
First Principles1
The opening volume of his System of Synthetic Philosophy.
-
The Man Versus the State1
An attack on Gladstone's Liberals for promoting paternalist social legislation.
Connections
Related
- Charles DarwinPersonCoined "survival of the fittest" after reading On the Origin of Species
- William Graham SumnerPersonSpencer had the "dominating influence" on Sumner's thought
- Evolution and EthicsBookHuxley's argument here is diametrically opposed to Spencer's
- Thomas Henry HuxleyPersonLong-time friend, diametrically opposed on whether ethics follows from evolution
- What Social Classes Owe to Each OtherBookSpencer had the dominating influence on Sumner's thought
Links
Sources
Last checked against its sources today
Is something on this page wrong or out of date? Tell us
The line under a date fills as time passes: empty when new, then one equal share each for a day, a week, a month and a year. For episodes and other items it is full at 2 years; for "last checked", at a year. A striped line means the date is known only to the month or year.