Herbert Spencer: biography of this English sociologist.

This controversial researcher applied the idea of "survival of the fittest" to social analysis.

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) was an English philosopher and sociologist who was an important advocate of liberalism from the perspective of social Darwinism. His theories had an important influence on the economics and government theories of the 20th century.

The following is a biography of Herbert Spencer, as well as his main works and contributions.as well as his main works and contributions.

Herbert Spencer: biography of this English sociologist.

Herbert Spencer was born on April 27, 1820 in Derbyshire, England. Son of the professor and dissenter from Christianity William George Spencer, Herbert Spencer was self-taught in natural sciences from an early age.

He is recognized as one of the most representative intellectuals of the Victorian era, as well as one of the main exponents of the theories of evolution applied to sociology. one of the main exponents of the theories of evolution applied to sociology, and of individualism.and individualism. With a strong conviction, Spencer defended the importance of examining social phenomena from a scientific perspective.

On the other hand, in the pedagogical area Spencer emphasized the importance of personal development, attention and empathy on the part of instructors, observation and problem solving, physical exercise and free play, as well as learning derived from directly experiencing the natural consequences of actions (beyond the punishments imposed by teachers).

His philosophy had a major impact on the justification for minimal state involvement in the economy.This in turn promoted competition among individuals and a gradual improvement of society through the survival of the fittest.

Herbert Spencer died on December 8, 1903 in Brighton, Sussex in England.

Sociological perspective: evolution and individualism

Herbert Spencer argued that social evolution occurs by a process of individuation, i.e., by the differentiation and development of the fittest, by the differentiation and development of human beings as individuals.. For him, human societies had evolved through a gradual process of division of labor that had transformed them from "primitive" groups into complex civilizations.

To argue this, he made important comparisons between animal organisms and human societies. He concluded that in both there was a regulatory system: for animals a nervous system and for human societies structures of government.. There was also a system of sustenance, which in the first case was food and in the second was industrial activity.

They also shared a distribution system, which for animal organisms was the circulatory system, and in human societies it was the communication systems and the means of transportation. Thus, what differentiated animal organisms from human societies was that the former exist as a whole, as a unified consciousness; while in the latter, consciousness exists only in each member of the group.

From this Spencer developed a theory of individualism and individuation. Within the framework of liberal philosophy, Spencer argues that individualism, as a personal development of the human being as an autonomous and differentiated member of the group, is closer to civilized societies, is closer to civilized societiesThe development of the English industrial society in the 19th century, according to Spencer, was developing a new Taylorism and preparing society for new forms of slavery in the future.

Moreover, the development of English industrial society in the 19th century, according to Spencer, was developing a new Taylorism and preparing society for new forms of slavery in the future. He proposed in this sense to recover the ancient function of liberalism, which was to put a limit to the power of kings, and at this time it could be directed towards putting a limit to parliaments.

Spencer's social Darwinism

Under this idea of individualism, Spencer advocates for allowing each member of society to develop to the best of his or her ability as a competent member of society, and so of it, and thus, those who were the fittest or most talented would be the most successful and best adapted. For this reason, his theory is often placed in the line of social Darwinism, a matter that was gradually criticized by the consequences of the widespread poverty of growing industrial capitalism.

However, his proposals were also taken up later by philosophers along similar lines, who found arguments to criticize the welfare state that developed after the war.

Outstanding works

Among his most representative works are Social Statics of 1851, and Synthetic Philosophy of 1896. Also his works Principles of Psychologyof 1855, First Principlesof 1862, Principles of Sociology, Descriptive Sociology, y Man against the Stateof 1884.

Between 1841 and 1845 he published The Proper Sphere of Governmentwhile he collaborated as a journalist specialized in economics and sociology in The nonconformist, where he argued the responsibility of governments in the defense of natural rights; and also in The zoist and Pilot, with topics dedicated to the science of the moment and the suffragette movements. Finally he participated as sub-editor of The economist, a position he resigned in 1853.

Bibliographical references:

• Burrows, H. (2018). Herbert Spencer. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved October 15, 2018. Available at https://www.britannica.com/biography/Herbert-Spencer.
• Homles, B. (1994). Herbert Spencer (1820-1903). Perspectives: quarterly journal of comparative education, 3(4): 543-565.