Herbert Spencer: biography and main ideas. English philosopher and sociologist of the late 19th century

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

Herbert Spencer (years of life - 1820-1903) - a philosopher from England, the main representative of evolutionism that became widespread in the 2nd half of the 19th century. He understood philosophy as a holistic, homogeneous knowledge based on specific sciences and having reached universal generality in its development. That is, in his opinion, this is the highest stage of knowledge, covering the entire world of law. According to Spencer, it lies in evolutionism, that is, development. The main works of this author: "Psychology" (1855), "The System of Synthetic Philosophy" (1862-1896), "Social Statistics" (1848).

Spencer's early years

Herbert Spencer was born in 1820, April 27, in Derby. His uncle, father and grandfather were teachers. Herbert was in such poor he alth that his parents even lost hope several times that the boy would survive. As a child hedid not show any phenomenal abilities, he learned to read only at the age of 8, however, books did not interest him much. Herbert Spencer at school was lazy and distracted, besides stubborn and disobedient. His upbringing at home was carried out by his father, who wanted his son to acquire extraordinary and independent thinking. Herbert improved his he alth through exercise.

Education of Herbert Spencer

He was sent at the age of 13, according to English custom, to be raised by his uncle. Thomas, Spencer's uncle, was a chaplain in Bath. It was a "university man". Herbert, at his insistence, continued his education at the University of Cambridge. However, after completing the three-year preparatory course, he went home. He decided to continue his studies on his own.

Herbert Spencer never regretted that he did not receive an academic education. He went through a good school of life, which subsequently helped to overcome many difficulties that arise when solving certain problems.

Spencer is an engineer

Spencer's father wanted his son to become a teacher, that is, to follow in his footsteps. Having received a secondary education, he really helped for several months at the school where he himself once studied, one teacher. Spencer showed a talent for teaching. But he was more interested in natural science and mathematics than in philology and history. Therefore, when the position of an engineer became vacant during the construction of the railway, Herbert Spencer accepted this offer without hesitation. His biography at that time is marked by the fact that, in fulfilling his position, he sketched out plans, drew maps. The thinker we are interested in even invented a special instrument ("velocimeter") designed to measure the speed of trains.

Features of Spencer as a philosopher

From most of the predecessor philosophers, Herbert Spencer, whose biography is described in this article, differs in a practical mindset. This brings him closer to Comte, the founder of positivism, as well as Renouvier, a neo-Kantian, who also did not complete a liberal arts course at the university. This feature played an important role in the formation of the original philosophical worldview of Spencer. But it also had its drawbacks. For example, he, like Comte, did not know the German language at all, so he could not read the works of philosophers who wrote in it in the original. In addition, during the first half of the 19th century, German thinkers (Schelling, Fichte, Kant, and others) remained unknown in England. Only from the end of the 1820s did the British begin to get acquainted with authors from Germany. The first translations were of very poor quality.

Self-education, first philosophical writings

Lyell's Principles of Geology falls into Spencer's hands in 1839. He gets acquainted with this work with the theory of the evolution of life. As before, Spencer is passionate about engineering projects, but it is now becoming clear that this profession does not guarantee him a solid financial position. Herbert returns home in 1841 and educates himself for two years. He gets acquainted with the works of the classicsphilosophy and published at the same time his first writings - articles written for the "Nonconformist", devoted to questions of the true boundaries of state activity.

Herbert in 1843-1846 again works as an engineer, heading the bureau. He is increasingly interested in political issues. He was greatly influenced in this area by Uncle Thomas, a priest who, unlike other members of the Spencer family, adhered to conservative views, participated in the democratic movement of the Chartists, as well as in agitation for the repeal of the Corn Laws.

Social statistics

Spencer in 1846 becomes assistant editor of The Economist (weekly). He earns well, devoting his free time to his own work. Herbert writes "Social Statistics", in which he considered the development of life as gradually realizing the divine idea. He later found this notion too theological. However, already in this work, Spencer applied the theory of evolution to social life.

This essay did not go unnoticed by specialists. Spencer makes acquaintances with Ellist, Lewis, Huxley. Also, this work brought him such admirers and friends as Hooker, Georg Groth, Stuart Mill. Only relations with Carlyle did not work out. Reasonable and cold-blooded Spencer could not bear his bilious pessimism.

Psychology

The philosopher was inspired by his successfirst job. In the period from 1848 to 1858 he publishes a number of others and ponders a plan for the work to which he wanted to devote his whole life. Spencer applies in Psychology (a second work published in 1855) to psychology the hypothesis of the natural origin of species and points out that the inexplicable individual can be explained by ancestral experience. Therefore, Darwin considers this philosopher one of his predecessors.

Synthetic Philosophy

Gradually, Spencer begins to develop his own system. It was influenced by the empiricism of his predecessors, mainly Mill and Hume, the criticism of Kant, refracted through the prism of Hamilton (a representative of the school of the so-called "common sense"), as well as Comte's positivism and Schelling's natural philosophy. However, the main idea of his philosophical system was the idea of development.

"Synthetic Philosophy", his main work, Herbert devoted 36 years of his life. This work glorified Spencer, who was declared the most brilliant philosopher who lived at that time.

Herbert Spencer in 1858 decided to announce a subscription to the publication of the essay. He published the first issue in 1860. In the period from 1860 to 1863, "Basic Principles" were published. However, due to financial difficulties, the publication was hardly promoted.

Material difficulties

Spencer is in need and loss, is on the verge of poverty. To this must be added nervous overwork that interfered with work. In 1865 the philosopherinforms readers with bitterness that he is forced to suspend the release of this series. Two years after Herbert's father died, he received a small inheritance, which somewhat improved his financial situation.

Meet Youmans, published in the USA

Herbert Spencer at this time meets Youmans, an American who published his works in the USA. In this country, Herbert gains wide popularity earlier than in England. He is supported financially by Youmans and American fans, which allows the philosopher to resume publishing his books. The friendship between Youmans and Spencer continues for 27 years, until the death of the first. Herbert's name is gradually becoming known. The demand for his books is growing. He covers financial losses in 1875, makes a profit.

Spencer makes 2 trips in the following years to the south of Europe and to America, lives mainly in London. In 1886, due to poor he alth, the philosopher was forced to interrupt his work for 4 years. The last volume was published in 1896, in the fall.

Herbert Spencer Key Ideas

His huge work ("Synthetic Philosophy") consists of 10 volumes. It includes "Basic Principles", "Foundations of Psychology", "Foundations of Biology", "Foundations of Sociology". The philosopher believes that the development of the whole world, including also various societies, is based on the evolutionary law. Matter from "incoherent homogeneity" passes into the state of "coherent heterogeneity", that is, it is differentiated. This law is universal, says Herbert Spencer. A brief description of him does not take into account all the nuances, but this is enough for the first acquaintance with this philosopher. Spencer traces its action on specific material in various areas, including the history of society. Refuses theological explanations Herbert Spencer. His sociology is devoid of connection with the divine. His understanding of the functioning of society as a single living organism with interconnected parts expands the scope of the study of history and prompts the philosopher to study it. According to Herbert Spencer, the law of equilibrium underlies evolution. Nature, in any violation of it, tends to invariably return to its former state. Such is the organicism of Herbert Spencer. Since the main value belongs to the education of characters, evolution is slow. In relation to the future, Herbert Spencer is not as optimistic as Mill and Comte. We briefly reviewed its main ideas.

The philosopher died in 1903, December 8, in Brighton. He lived, despite his failing he alth, for more than 83 years.

The theory of Herbert Spencer has become the property of educated people. Today we no longer think or forget about who we owe the discovery of this or that idea to. Herbert Spencer, whose sociology and philosophy played a huge role in the development of world thought, is one of the greatest minds in history.