Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer (pronounced: /ˈhɜːrbərt ˈspɛnsər/) was a prominent English philosopher, biologist, anthropologist, and sociologist known for his significant contributions to the theory of evolution.
Etymology
The name 'Herbert Spencer' is of Old German origin. 'Herbert' is derived from the elements 'hari', meaning 'army', and 'beraht', meaning 'bright'. 'Spencer' is an occupational name for someone who dispensed provisions in a great house, from the Middle English 'spenser'.
Related Terms
- Evolution: A process that results in heritable changes in a population spread over many generations.
- Social Darwinism: A theory in the late 19th century that the laws of evolution, which Charles Darwin had observed in nature, also apply to society.
- Survival of the fittest: A phrase that originated from Darwinian evolutionary theory as a way of describing the mechanism of natural selection.
Contributions
Spencer is best known for coining the concept "survival of the fittest," which he did in Principles of Biology (1864), after reading Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species. This term strongly associated with Darwinism and the theory of natural selection, was in fact first used by Spencer.
In his works, Spencer also 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.
Legacy
Despite being largely disregarded by the academic establishment in his later years, Spencer had a significant impact on a number of disciplines, including philosophy, biology, psychology, and sociology. His ideas have also had a lasting impact on the field of sociology, with many contemporary sociologists considering Spencer a major figure in their discipline.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Herbert Spencer
- Wikipedia's article - Herbert Spencer
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