About
Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) was an English philosopher and sociologist, best known for applying evolutionary ideas to philosophy and political theory. Self-taught, he worked as a civil engineer before becoming a writer. His first book, Social Statics (1851), advocated a minimal state. He coined the phrase 'survival of the fittest' and popularized the term 'evolution'. His magnum opus, the ten-volume System of Synthetic Philosophy, achieved great international success. Spencer was an agnostic and influenced liberal thought of his time.
* 1820-04-27 — † 1903-12-08
Major works
- Social Statics (1851)political essay
- Principles of Psychology (1855)philosophical treatise
- Education: Intellectual, Moral, and Physical (1861)educational treatise
- First Principles (1862)philosophical treatise
- The Man Versus the State (1884)political essay
Key milestones
- 1851Publication of Social Statics, which articulates the law of equal freedom and advocates a minimal state.
- 1864Coins the phrase 'survival of the fittest' in Principles of Biology.
- 1896Completes his magnum opus, the ten-volume System of Synthetic Philosophy.
Themes
EvolutionIndividual libertyMinimal stateAgnosticismSociology
Sources: plato.stanford.edu · britannica.com
