Herbert Spencer was an English philosopher and sociologist who developed an ambitious evolutionary synthesis applying the idea of progressive development to biology, psychology, and society alike. He coined the phrase survival of the fittest, which Charles Darwin later adopted, and in works such as The Principles of Sociology he described societies as organisms that evolve from simple, undifferentiated forms toward greater complexity, differentiation, and integration. His organicist, evolutionary view of society and his advocacy of minimal state interference made him one of the most widely read social theorists of the late nineteenth century and a central reference point, positive and negative, for later sociology.
Facts
BirthplaceDerby, Derbyshire, England 1 Nationality / Culture Defining ContributionDeveloped an all-embracing conception of evolution as the progressive development of the physical world, biological organisms, the human mind, and human culture and societies, extending Darwinian ideas into sociology and ethics. 1 Notable WorkPrinciples of Biology (1864) 1 Herbert Spencer
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Institutions Informed
Sumner was America leading Spencerian sociologist, applying Spencer social-evolutionary framework to American society at Yale.
Practices Studied
Source Herbert Spencer (Wikipedia)
Source Herbert Spencer (Wikipedia)
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Source Herbert Spencer (Wikipedia)Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia articleQuote, Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article
Herbert Spencer (27 April 1820 – 8 December 1903) was an English polymath active as a philosopher, psychologist, biologist, sociologist, and anthropologist.
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1. Herbert Spencer (Wikipedia)
WikipediaOpening sentence (birth date)
Herbert Spencer (27 April 1820-8 December 1903) was an English polymath active as a philosopher, psychologist, biologist, sociologist, and anthropologist.
Opening sentence (birth year)
Herbert Spencer (27 April 1820-8 December 1903) was an English polymath active as a philosopher, psychologist, biologist, sociologist, and anthropologist.
Opening sentence (death date)
Herbert Spencer (27 April 1820-8 December 1903) was an English polymath active as a philosopher, psychologist, biologist, sociologist, and anthropologist.
Opening sentence (death year)
Herbert Spencer (27 April 1820-8 December 1903) was an English polymath active as a philosopher, psychologist, biologist, sociologist, and anthropologist.
Early life and education section, opening sentence
Spencer was born in Derby, Derbyshire, England, on 27 April 1820, the son of William George Spencer (generally called George).
Opening sentence (nationality)
Herbert Spencer (27 April 1820-8 December 1903) was an English polymath active as a philosopher, psychologist, biologist, sociologist, and anthropologist.
Lead paragraph, second sentence
Spencer originated the expression "survival of the fittest", which he coined in Principles of Biology (1864) after reading Charles Darwin's 1859 book On the Origin of Species.
Lead paragraph, third paragraph
Spencer developed an all-embracing conception of evolution as the progressive development of the physical world, biological organisms, the human mind, and human culture and societies.
Practices Studied: The State, Article text
" Spencer argued that the state is not an "essential" institution and that it will "decay" as a voluntary market organisation comes to replace the coercive aspects of the state.
Practices Studied: Religion, Article text
He was to gain much notoriety from his repudiation of traditional religion, and was frequently condemned by religious thinkers for allegedly advocating atheism and materialism.
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