Herbert Spencer (years of life - 1820-1903) - English philosopher, the chief representative is widespread in the 2nd half of the 19th century evolutionism.He meant by a holistic philosophy, uniform knowledge based on specific sciences and has reached in its development of the universal community.That is, in his opinion, is the highest level of knowledge, covering the entire world of law.According to Spencer, he is evolutionism, that is development.Major works by this author: "Psychology" (1855), "System of Synthetic Philosophy" (1862-1896), "Social Statistics" (1848).
Early Years
Spencer Herbert Spencer was born in 1820, on April 27 in Derby.My uncle, my father and his grandfather were teachers.So poor health had Herbert that his parents even lost several times the hope that the boy would survive.As a child, he did not show any phenomenal abilities, I learned to read in only 8 years, however, the book is not very interested in it.Herbert Spencer school was lazy and distracted, moreover, stubborn and disobedient.His education at home involved a father who wanted his son gained extraordinary and independent thinking.Herbert due to exercise to improve their health.
Education Herbert Spencer
He was sent to 13 years, according to the English custom, to his uncle in foster care.Thomas Spencer uncle was a priest in Bath.It was "a university man."Herbert at his insistence, continued education at Cambridge University.However, after a three-year preparatory course I went home.He decided to continue their education on their own.
never regretted Herbert Spencer that academic education is not received.It was a good school of life, which later helped to overcome many difficulties encountered in solving various problems.
Spencer - engineer
Spencer's father wanted his son to become a teacher, you have followed in his footsteps.Having received secondary education, it really helped for a few months at the school, where he studied himself once, one teacher.We showed Spencer pedagogical talent.But he was more interested in science and mathematics than philology and history.Therefore, when the construction of the railroad make room engineer, accepted the offer without hesitation, Herbert Spencer.His biography at this time is marked by the fact that he is performing his job, he sketched plans, draw maps.We are interested in a thinker even invented a special tool ("velocimeter"), designed to measure the speed of trains.
Features Spencer as a philosopher
from most philosophers predecessors, Herbert Spencer, whose biography is described in this article, different practical turn of mind.This brings him to the Comte, founder of positivism, and Renouvier, Neo-that, too, did not complete the course of the humanities at the university.This feature has been instrumental in the formation of the original philosophical outlook Spencer.But this had disadvantages.For example, he, like Comte, did not know the German language perfectly, so the works of the philosophers who have written on it, the original could not read.In addition, during the first half of the 19th century in England remained unknown German thinkers (Schelling, Fichte, Kant, and others.).Only since the late 1820s the British start to get acquainted with authors from Germany.The first translations in this case were of very poor quality.
Self-education, the first philosophical writings
In the hands of Spencer in 1839 fall into the "Principles of Geology" Lyell.He met on that compose the theory of evolution of life.Still fascinated by Spencer engineering projects, but it is clear now that the profession is a strong financial position it is not guaranteed.Herbert in 1841 and has been back home for two years in self-education.He is acquainted with the works of the classics of philosophy and published at the same time his first writings - articles written for "non-conformists", dedicated to the issues of the true boundaries of state activity.
Herbert in 1843-1846 years working again as an engineer, heading the Office.He is more interested in political issues.Greatly influenced by him in this regard Uncle Thomas, a priest who adhered, in contrast to other members of the Spencer family, conservative views, participated in the democratic movement of the Chartists, as well as campaigning for the abolition of the Corn Laws.
"Social statistics"
Spencer in 1846 became an assistant editor of "The Economist" (weekly).He earns good, devoting his spare time own work.Herbert writes "social statistics", in which the development of life regarded as exercising gradually divine idea.He later found this concept too teologichnym.However, in this paper, Spencer applied to the social life of the theory of evolution.
not go unnoticed this essay specialists.Tied dating Spencer with ELLISTE, Lewis, Huxley.Also, this work earned him admirers and friends such as Hooker, Georg Groth, Stuart Mill.Only from Carlyle relationship did not exist.Cool-headed judgment and Spencer could not bear his gall pessimism.
"Psychology"
philosopher inspired the success of his first work.He publishes in the period from 1848 to 1858 and a number of other things considering the plan, the implementation of which would like to devote a lifetime.Spencer uses in the "Psychology" (the second paper, published in 1855) in relation to the psychology of the hypothesis of natural origin of species and indicates that the generic experience can be explained by the inexplicable individual.Therefore, Darwin said that philosopher one of his predecessors.
"Synthetic Philosophy"
Gradually Spencer starts to develop its own system.It was influenced by the empiricism of his predecessors, mainly Mill and Hume, Kant's criticism, refracted through the prism of Hamilton (the representative of the school of so-called "common sense"), and the positivism of Comte and natural philosophy of Schelling.However, the main idea of his philosophical system was the idea of development.
"Synthetic Philosophy", his main work, Herbert has devoted 36 years of his life.This work is glorified Spencer, which announced the most brilliant philosopher who lived at the time.
Herbert Spencer in 1858 decided to announce the publication of the works of the subscription.The first issue he published in 1860. In the period from 1860 to 1863 came "First Principles."However, due to financial difficulties edition hardly progressed.
Material difficulties
Spencer suffered hardship and loss, is on the verge of poverty.We should add to this work which prevented nervous exhaustion.In 1865, the philosopher says bitterly readers that forced to suspend output of the series.Two years later, after his father died, Herbert, he received a small inheritance, slightly improved its financial situation.
Familiarity with Youmans, published in the US
Herbert Spencer at the time met with Youmans, American to the United States published his writings.In this country, Herbert gets wide popularity earlier than in England.Financial support him have Youmans and American fans, allowing the philosopher to resume publication of his books.27 years of friendship continues Youmans and Spencer, to the death of the first.Name Herbert gradually becomes known.The demand for his books.It covers the 1875 financial losses, profits.
Spencer does in subsequent years, 2 travel to the south of Europe and in America, lives mostly in London.In 1886, the philosopher because of poor health was compelled to 4 years to interrupt his work.The last volume was published in 1896, in the autumn.
Herbert Spencer: basic ideas
his great work ("Synthetic Philosophy") consists of 10 volumes.It includes the "Basic Principles", "Principles of Psychology", "Foundations of Biology", "Foundations of Sociology".The philosopher believes that the basis for the development of the world, also including various societies, is an evolutionary law.Matter of "incoherent homogeneity" goes into "coherent heterogeneity" that is differentiated.This law is universal, says Herbert Spencer.Brief description of it does not account for all the nuances, but for the first acquaintance with the philosopher's enough.Spencer traces its action on a specific material in various fields, including the history of society.Refuses theological explanation Herbert Spencer.Sociology is deprived of his connection with the divine.His understanding of the functioning of society as a living organism with interdependent parts extends the range of the study of history and suggests a philosopher to study it.According to Herbert Spencer, the law of equilibrium is the basis of evolution.The nature of any breach of its aims always to return to the previous state.Such organicism Herbert Spencer.Since the main role belongs to character education, evolution is slow.With respect to the future are not so optimistic as Mill and Comte, Herbert Spencer.The main ideas of it were we briefly discussed.
philosopher died in 1903, December 8, at Brighton.He lived, in spite of his poor health, more than 83 years.
Herbert Spencer's theory became known to educated people.Today, we no longer think or forget about who owe the discovery of this or that idea.Herbert Spencer, sociology and philosophy which played a huge role in the development of world thought, is one of the greatest minds in history.
