E. Perine) Born in Derby in central England, Spencer was largely self-taught. Thomas Spencer, to send him to the University of Cambridge. Herbert Spencer worked briefly as a schoolteacher and was later employed as a railway engineer (1837–41) and as a writer and subeditor (copy editor) for The Economist (1851–53). In 1842 he contributed some letters (republished later as a pamphlet, The Proper Sphere of Government [1843]) to The Nonconformist, in which he argued that it is the business of governments to uphold natural rights and that they do more harm than good when they go beyond that. While working for the magazine through 1853, Spencer also wrote his first book, Social Statics, and published it in 1851. Education was eventually adopted as a textbook in nearly all teacher-training colleges in England. Omissions? By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. In this work, he coined the term "survival of the fittest." Although his father’s name was William, his middle name was George, and that was the name he was known by. By far the best source on Spencer's life, education, and the development of his major ideas is his own An Autobiography (2 vols., 1904). ed. Spencer was a sociologist in part. He was known for his contributions to evolutionary theory and for applying it outside of biology, to the fields of philosophy, psychology, and within sociology. In this work, Spencer elaborated on how the principle of evolution had been applied within not only biology, but in psychology, sociology, and in the study of morality. Darwin didn't include the words "survival of the fittest" in On the Origin of Speciesuntil the fifth edition (1869) and attributed them to Spencer himself. From an early age, Herbert was strongly influenced by the individualism and the anti-establishment and ant… Herbert Spencer was born in Derby, England on April 27, 1820. Biografi. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Herbert-Spencer, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Biography of Herbert Spencer, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Biography of Herbert Spencer, The Victorian Web - Biography of Herbert Spencer, Unesco - International Bureau of Education - Biography of Herbert Spencer, Herbert Spencer - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Herbert Spencerwas the oldest of nine children, and the only one of all the siblings to survive infancy. Herbert Spencer as a young man (Engraving by Geo. George … Herbert Spencer’s major writings included The Proper Sphere of Government (1843), Social Statics (1851), Education: Intellectual, Moral, and Physical (1861), and The Synthetic Philosophy, a multivolume work ranging over psychology, biology, sociology, and ethics and published between 1855 and 1896. Author: The Man versus the State, with Six Essays on Government, Society and Freedom (LF ed.) Crossman, Ashley. Herbert Spencer was born in Derby, Derbyshire, England, on 27th April 1820. George focused Herbert's early education on science, and simultaneously, he was introduced to philosophical thinking through George's membership in the Derby Philosophical Society. Overall, this work suggests that societies are organisms that progress through a process of evolution similar to that experienced by living species, a concept known to as social Darwinism. Herbert Spencer was a 19th century philosopher, sociologist, and biologist and a prominent advocate for laissez‐faire policies. He declined an offer from his uncle, the Rev. In the latter period of his life, Spencer was regarded as the greatest living philosopher of the time. An allied class, equally unprepared to interpret sociological phenomena scientifically, is the class which sees in the course of civilization little else than a record of remarkable persons and their doings. Fabled steel entrepreneur Andrew Carnegie hungered to know the secret of human progress. In order to prepare the ground for The Principles of Sociology, Spencer started in 1873 a series of works called Descriptive Sociology, in which information was provided about the social institutions of various societies, both “primitive” and “civilized.” The series was interrupted in 1881 because of a lack of public support. Herbert Spencer was a British philosopher and sociologist who was intellectually active during the Victorian period. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The inclusion of the ethical compo- Due to his ill-health he could not go to any conventional school rather received education from his father. Titled for a concept of August Comte, in this work, Spencer used Lamarck's ideas about evolution and applied them to society, suggesting that people adapt to the social conditions of their lives. He was known for his contributions to evolutionary theory and for applying it outside of biology, to the fields of philosophy, psychology, and within sociology. However, his life took a dark turn in the 1880s, when he switched positions on many of his well-known libertarian political views. Han var redaktör vid tidskriften The Economist från 1848. In this work, he coined the term "survival of the fittest." "Biography of Herbert Spencer." Readers lost interest in his new work and Spencer found himself lonely as many of his contemporaries died. Corrections? Spencer was a friend and adviser of the social reformer Beatrice Potter, later Beatrice Webb, who frequently visited Spencer during his last illness and left a sympathetic and sad record of his last years in My Apprenticeship (1926). 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. Herbert Spencer (27 April 1820 – 8 December 1903) was an English philosopher and prominent liberal political theorist. HERBERT SPENCER (1820–1903) Brian Holmes1 Herbert Spencer was a gifted amateur. Herbert Spencer (n. 27 aprilie 1820, la Derby, East Midlands - d. 8 decembrie 1903, la Londra) a fost un faimos sociolog, psiholog și gânditor britanic. Herbert was a man of unique and freethinking. Although largely ignored today, Spencer in his own time was enormously influential and played a significant role in the development of biology, psychology, sociology, and anthropology. Herbert Spencer. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. John Bagnold Burgess / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain. Herbert Spencer was born 27th April 1820, to William and Harriet Spencer. About 1850 Spencer became acquainted with the novelist George Eliot, and his philosophical conversations with her led some of their friends to expect that they would marry, but in his Autobiography (1904) Spencer denies any such desire, much as he admired Eliot’s intellectual powers. He was born in Derby, Derbyshire, England. Spencer developed an … Herbert Spencer, (born April 27, 1820, Derby, Derbyshire, England—died December 8, 1903, Brighton, Sussex), English sociologist and philosopher, an early advocate of the theory of evolution, who achieved an influential synthesis of knowledge, advocating the preeminence of the individual over society and of science over religion. Because of this, he argued, social order would follow, and so the rule of a political state would be unnecessary. In fact, he applied evolutionist laws to philosophy and society. Herbert Spencer's Critique of 'Great Man Theory' From The Study of Sociology (1873) Original text at Archive.org. In Spencer’s day social Darwinism was invoked to justify laissez-faire economics and the minimal state, which were thought to best promote unfettered competition between individuals and the gradual improvement of society through the “survival of the fittest,” a term that Spencer himself introduced. See all books authored by Herbert Spencer, including The Man versus the State, and First Principles, and more on ThriftBooks.com. He was able to live off of income from the sale of his books and other writing, and his works were translated into many languages and read all over the world. Synthetic Philosophy. Although it is natural to cite him as the great exponent of Victorian optimism, it is notable that he was by no means unaffected by the pessimism that from time to time clouded the Victorian confidence. Spencer originated the expression "survival of the fittest", which he coined in Principles of Biology (1864) after reading Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species. For a careful study of Spencer's impact upon American intellectual history see Richard Hofstadter, Social Darwinism in American Thought (1944; rev. Herbert Spencer is famous for his doctrine of social Darwinism, which asserted that the principles of evolution, including natural selection, apply to human societies, social classes, and individuals as well as to biological species developing over geologic time. The series comprised 19 parts (1873–1934). Born to a nonconformist father, he was educated at home first by his father and then by his uncle in mathematics and science. First Principles was published in 1862, and between then and 1896, when the third volume of The Principles of Sociology appeared, the task was completed. Herbert Spencer: A biographical Sketch: Herbert Spencer was born in Derby, England on April 27, 1820, in a middle class family. In 1902, Spencer received a nomination for the Nobel Prize for literature, but did not win it, and died in 1903 at the age of 83 years old. Biography of Herbert Spencer. The Major Theoretical Perspectives of Sociology, How Emile Durkheim Made His Mark on Sociology, A Brief Overview of Émile Durkheim and His Historic Role in Sociology, Famous Education Quotations from Philosopher Herbert Spencer, Biography of Patricia Hill Collins, Esteemed Sociologist, The Life of Talcott Parsons and His Influence on Sociology, Social Statics: The Conditions Essential to Human Happiness (1850). Despite this, he began work on a major undertaking, which culminated in the nine-volume A System of Synthetic Philosophy. https://www.thoughtco.com/herbert-spencer-3026492 (accessed March 12, 2021). He is also remembered for introducing the term survival of the fittest. His magnum opus, The Synthetic Philosophy (1896), was a comprehensive work containing volumes on the principles of biology, psychology, morality, and sociology. Herbert Spencer (27 April 1820 – 8 December 1903) was an English philosopher, biologist, anthropologist, sociologist, and prominent classical liberal political theorist of the Victorian era.. 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. He utilized the principles of physical and biological evolution in order to elaborate and explain his theory of Social evolution. This English philosopher, psychologist, sociologist, and natural law expert was the greatest leader of social Darwinism and positivism of his time. He is best remembered for his doctrine of social Darwinism, according to which the principles of evolution, including natural selection, apply to human societies, social classes, and individuals as well as to biological species developing over geologic time. He was the product of an undisciplined, largely informal education. Huxley. Herbert Spencer (27 April 1820 – 8 December 1903) was an English philosopher, biologist, anthropologist, and sociologist famous for his hypothesis of social Darwinism whereby superior physical force shapes history. During the 1830s Spencer worked as a civil engineer while the railways were being constructed throughout Britain, but also spent time writing in radical local journals. In 1853 Spencer, having received a legacy from his uncle, resigned his position with The Economist. Crossman, Ashley. Between 1854 and 1859 he published a series of essays on education, which were collected in Education: Intellectual, Moral, and Physical (1861). Herbert Spencer, a leading figure in the intellectual revolution of the nineteenth century England, was a noted philosopher, sociologist, biologist, anthropologist and a political theorist. He has explored and contributed to many knowledgeable fields such as psychology, philosophy, biology, and sociology. His grand scheme . Birthplace: Derby, Derbyshire, England Location of death: Brighton, Sussex, England Cause of death: unspecified Remains: Buried. SPENCER, HERBERT (1820–1903), philosopher, was born in Derby on 27 April 1820. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Spencer rejected some traditional elements of the curriculum and emphasized the importance of self-development, sympathetic attention from instructors, observation and problem solving, physical exercise and free play, and discipline derived from experiencing the natural consequences of one’s actions rather than from punishments imposed by teachers and parents. It has been claimed that Herbert Spencer invented the paperclip; this isn’t quite true, but he invented … Herbert Spencer (1820-1903), the English philosopher-scientist, was a leading figure in the intellectual revolution of the nineteenth century. His father William George Spencer was a schoolmaster, a religious dissenter who drifted from Methodism to Quakerism. Science and philosophy, he held, gave support to and enhanced individualism and progress. ThoughtCo. He is also known as the British Aristotle and also said to be second founding father of Sociology. The book was considered a work of libertarian political philosophy, but also, is what makes Spencer a founding thinker of the functionalist perspective within sociology. Crossman, Ashley. Herbert Spencer saw himself as a philosopher rather than as a sociologist. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Herbert Spencer, född 27 april 1820 i Derby, död 8 december 1903 i Brighton, var en brittisk filosof och liberal. Recommended for general historical background are Ernest Ba… Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/herbert-spencer-3026492. Herbert Spencer (27 April 1820 – 8 December 1903) was an English philosopher, and a prominent liberal political and social theorist of the Victorian era. Spencer published the first part of The Principles of Psychology in 1855. The term strongly suggests natural selection, yet Spencer saw evolution as extending into realms of sociology and ethics, so he also supp… He was cremated and his ashes interred opposite the grave of Karl Marx in Highgate Cemetery in London. was termed Synthetic Philosophy, and it was to encompass all realms of the universe: physi-cal, psychological, biological, sociological, and ethical. The biography of Spencer entitled "Herbert Spencer and the Invention of Modern Life" by Mark Francis is a recent addition to the body of works of an interesting 19th century polymath. Even so, he was a child of ill-health and was taught at home by his father rather than attending school. Spencer saw philosophy as a synthesis of the fundamental principles of the special sciences, a sort of scientific summa to replace the theological systems of the Middle Ages. Herbert Spencer Gasser (July 5, 1888 – May 11, 1963) was an American physiologist, and recipient of the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1944 for his work with action potentials in nerve fibers while on the faculty of Washington University in St. Louis, awarded jointly with Joseph Erlanger. Spencer was one of the most-argumentative and most-discussed English thinkers of the Victorian era. Spencer’s father, William George Spencer, was a schoolmaster, and his parents’ dissenting religious convictions inspired in him a nonconformity that continued active even after he had abandoned the Christian faith. In physical evolution, a movement is from indefinite incoherent situation to definite and coherent situation. Compared with his distinguished contemporaries, he was neither as precocious as J.S. But he was even more a moralphilosopher. (2021, February 16). His family members were highly individualistic in their outlook and Spencer also inherited the same tradition. Besides, the underlying principles of […] Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of Edinburgh, 1964–74. The phrase "survival of the fittest", generally mis-attributed to Charles Darwin, actually originated as a coining by Spencer in his 1864 book The Principles of Biology. 1955). He thought of unification in terms of development, and his whole scheme was in fact suggested to him by … He was, for a few months, a schoolteacher and from 1837 to 1841 a railway civil engineer. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Updates? Herbert Spencer (27 April 1820 - 8 December 1903) was an English philosopher, biologist, sociologist, and prominent classical liberal political theorist of the Victorian era. After some association with progressive journalism through such papers as The Zoist (devoted to mesmerism, or hypnosis, and phrenology) and The Pilot (the organ of the Complete Suffrage Union), Spencer became in 1848 a subeditor of The Economist. He worked as a railway engineer and a … Looking for books by Herbert Spencer? Herbert Spencer was a British philosopher and sociologist who was intellectually active during the Victorian period. He believed that all aspects of his thought formed a coherent and closely ordered system. Spencer's career became focused on intellectual matters in 1848 when he became an editor for The Economist, the now widely-read weekly magazine that was first published in England in 1843. ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/herbert-spencer-3026492. The Spencer family had been settled for several centuries in the parish of Kirk Ireton in Derbyshire. "Biography of Herbert Spencer." Spencer died in 1903, at Brighton, leaving a will by which trustees were set up to complete the publication of the Descriptive Sociology. His strongly scientific orientation led him to urge the importance of examining social phenomena in a scientific way. In addition, he helped develop the functionalist perspective, one of the major theoretical frameworks in sociology. ADVERTISEMENTS: The most important contribution of Herbert Spencer to Sociology is the theory of evolution. Please select which sections you would like to print: While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. His father, William George Spencer, was a rebel of the times and cultivated in Herbert an anti-authoritarian attitude. Spencer declined an offer from his uncle, the Reverend Thomas Spencer, to send him to the University of Cambridge, and in consequence his higher education was largely the result of his own reading, which was chiefly in the natural sciences. For him as for Mill, liberty and justice wereequivalent. The Man Versus the State: With Six Essays on Government, Society, and Freedom by Herbert Spencer. Herbert Spencer (Derby, 27 de Abril de 1820 — Brighton, 8 de Dezembro de 1903) foi um filósofo, biólogo e antropólogo inglês, bem como um dos representantes do liberalismo clássico. Herbert Spencer was born in 1820 on 27th April in England. George, as his father was known, was the founder of a school that used unconventional teaching methods and was a contemporary of Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles. He resigned his position with The Economist after receiving an inheritance from his uncle. In 1860 Spencer issued a prospectus and accepted subscriptions for a comprehensive work, The Synthetic Philosophy, which was to include, besides the already-published Principles of Psychology, volumes on first principles and on biology, sociology, and morality. Other friends were the writer George Henry Lewes, the biologist Thomas Henry Huxley, and the philosopher and economist John Stuart Mill. Herbert Spencer was one of the biggest thinkers of his time. he was social philosophers. English philosopher, born at Derby on the 27th of April 1820. All Spencer's four grandparents were among the early followers of John Wesley. At about this time, Spencer began to experience significant mental health problems that limited his ability to work, interact with others, and function in society. His father, George, was a school teacher, but an unconventional man, and Spencer's family were Methodist 'Dissenters,' with Quaker sympathies. His uncle, Thomas Spencer, contributed to Herbert's education by instructing him in mathematics, physics, Latin, and free-trade and libertarian political thinking. Herbert Spencer, (born April 27, 1820, Derby, Derbyshire, England—died December 8, 1903, Brighton, Sussex), English sociologist and philosopher, an early advocate of the theory of evolution, who achieved an influential synthesis of knowledge, advocating the preeminence of the individual over society and of science over religion. In his higher education Herbert Spencer was largely self-taught. His family was of intellectuals and individuals who had earned high ranking and respect in British society. Darwin's preferred phrase for evolution by natural selection was "descent with modification". Evolution, he taught, would be followed by dissolution, and individualism would come into its own only after an era of socialism and war. Mill nor as well-educated as Charles Darwin and T.H. During the early 1880s, he found out after he joined a Manhattan discussion group. Spencer was born in Derby, England on 27 April 1820, the eldest of nine children, but the only one to survive infancy. Spencer's second book, Principles of Psychology, was published in 1855 and made the argument that natural laws govern the human mind. Spencer was both a philosopher and advocate of Darwin's evolutionary ideas as well as one who opined frequently on matters of political import. In 1851 he published Social Statics, which contained in embryo most of his later views, including his argument in favour of an extreme form of economic and social laissez-faire. He was what we now refer to as a liberal utilitarianfirst who traded heavily in evolutionary theory in order to explainhow our liberal utilitarian sense of justice emerges.Though a utilitarian, Spencer took distributive justice no lessseriously than Mill. Two of the more reliable and critical biographical works are Josiah Royce, Herbert Spencer: An Estimate and Review (1904), and Hugh Elliot, Herbert Spencer (1917).