SOC4044 Sociological Theory Herbert Spencer Dr. Ronald Keith Bolender

Sunday, October 03,

2010

©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith

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SOCL /ANTH 302:

Social Theory

Herbert Spencer

Sunday, October 03,

2010


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Herbert Spencer

1820 - 1903

Sunday, October 03,

2010


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Herbert Spencer

Born April 27, 1820 in Derby, England

Oldest of nine children, the only to survive

Religious/political/philosophical background

Nonconformist

Partial Quaker in thinking

Supported laissez-faire economics

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2010


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Herbert Spencer

Taught at home by father & later his uncle

Education--heavy in science--very light in Latin, Greek, English, and History

By age 16 had good background in mathematics and the natural sciences

Never a generally educated individual

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2010


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Herbert Spencer

In 1837 (at age17) became an engineer at London and Birmingham Railroad

Later worked as a draftsman for the Birmingham Railway

Discharged in 1841

Returned home to Derby

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2010


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Herbert Spencer

Next few years published several articles in the radical press

“The Proper Sphere of Government”

Argued for an extreme restriction of the scope of government

• Field of human activity (except for policing) should be left to private enterprise

• No poor laws, no national education, no established church, no restrictions on commerce, and no factory legislation

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2010


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Herbert Spencer

In 1850, finished first book, Social Statics

Based on “The Proper Sphere of Government”

laissez faire view of government

Disagreed with Comte on “ government intervention.”

Comte visualized a “social priest” (with governmental powers)

Help society run as smoothly as possible.

• Similar to the role of the chairperson of the Federal Reserve (in the United States) in fine tuning the economy via changing interest rates.

Sunday, October 03,

2010


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Herbert Spencer

The basic argument of Social Statics

Human happiness can be achieved only when individuals can satisfy their needs

and desires without infringing on the rights of others to do the same.

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2010


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Herbert Spencer

“The Developmental Hypothesis”

1852, seven years prior to Darwin‟s Origin of Species

Advocated a theory of evolution

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2010


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Herbert Spencer

1853 received inheritance from uncle‟s estate

Life of a private scholar

A lifelong bachelor

Lived frugally in various lodgings and rooming houses in London

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2010


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Herbert Spencer

Around 1854, suffered from a nervous illness--at times unable to concentrate, write, or even to read

Attempted to overcome acute insomnia with heavy doses of opium

Eventually retreated from society, became a semi-hermit

Sunday, October 03,

2010


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Herbert Spencer

Refused nearly all honors offered by universities, the government, or scientific bodies.

No official position

No university degree

An international reputation

Influence almost comparable to that of Charles Darwin.

Sunday, October 03,

2010


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Herbert Spencer

Class of Theories: Organicism

Societal Evolution--Social Darwinism

Society is similar to a special organism obeying its own laws of „progress.‟

The natural order of all societies is hierarchy.

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2010


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Herbert Spencer

Spencer coined the phrase “survival of the fittest.”

Almost a decade before Darwin published “On the Origin of Species”

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2010


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Herbert Spencer

Proclaimed that sociology was to be the study of superorganic organisms

That is, study relations among living organisms-

Included more than human organisms

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2010


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Herbert Spencer

Survival Similarities in Social & Biological Systems

Production of life-sustaining substances

Reproduction of system parts

Regulation & control of actions by system parts

Distribution of information & materials among system units

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2010


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Herbert Spencer

Emphasized concept of progress

The evolution of society involves increasing complexity of social structure & culture symbols

Complexity increases capacity of humans to adapt and survive in environment.

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2010


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Herbert Spencer

Evolution of human societies, is a special case of a universally applicable natural law.

Sociology can only become a science based on the belief that social order conforms to natural law.

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2010


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Herbert Spencer

Evolution--

Unilinear

or

Multilinear?

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2010


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Herbert Spencer

At first supported a unilinear model of evolution—straightforward & progressive

Later suggested that “regression” was possible (influenced by what he saw in England toward the end of the 19th century).

Sunday, October 03,

2010


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Herbert Spencer

Survival of the Fittest

War and complex societies

Intervention results in lesser societies

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2010


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Herbert Spencer

War--interesting impact upon society.

One of few social phenomena where “individualistic” members of a modern society are willing to “sacrifice” self-centerness for the “good” of society as a whole.

Sunday, October 03,

2010


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Herbert Spencer

For a period of time, members of society are willing to allow “major” efficient changes to be made “overnight.”

Example: Post 9/11

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2010


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Herbert Spencer

(Turner, Beeghley, and Powers 1998:64-68)

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2010


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Herbert Spencer

Structural-functionalism—War benefits society

War would not exist unless it had positive outcomes for society. . .

War created a world of larger political units. . . from 600,000 around 1,000 BC to less than 200 today.

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2010


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Herbert Spencer

Centuries of warfare, the state (as a large political unit) was created

Led to greater social stability

Which led to profound positive social and cultural changes.

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2010


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Herbert Spencer

Industrialization & technology could not have developed in the small social groups before military action consolidated them into larger states.

Thus, war contributed indirectly to the industrialization and technological sophistication that characterized the modern world.

Sunday, October 03,

2010


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Herbert Spencer

As societies become more industrialized, their proneness to

warfare decreases. . .

Preindustrial nations

Overall mean of 10.6 wars per decade

Industrial nations

Overall mean of 2.7 wars per decade

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2010


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Herbert Spencer

Positive Benefits of War

Creates solidarity

Gives society a common cause to rally around

Increases employment and stimulates the economy

Inspires scientific & technological developments useful to civilians

Microwave oven

Internet

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2010


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Herbert Spencer:

Nonintervention

Nonintervention

and the

Survival of the Fittest

Sunday, October 03,

2010


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Herbert Spencer:

Nonintervention

Concept of survival of the fittest from the works of Thomas Robert Malthus.

The role of “intervention” is a serious philosophical issue in the concept of “pure evolution and nonintervention.”

Sunday, October 03,

2010


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Herbert Spencer:

Nonintervention

Classical Malthusianism

Thomas Robert Malthus

English economist

Essay on the Principle of Population

First published in 1798 AD

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2010


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Herbert Spencer:

Nonintervention

Basic principles of the Malthus’ Theory

Food is essential for the existence of man

“Passion between the sexes” will continue to exist and result in population growth

Population grows “geometrically” whereas food increases only “arithmetically”

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2010


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Herbert Spencer:

Nonintervention

Positive checks on population growth

Famines

Disease

Wars

Human propensity to procreate faster than food can be produced

Most of mankind is poor most of the time

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2010


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Herbert Spencer:

Nonintervention

Preventive checks (moral restraints)

Delayed marriages

Reduced frequency of sex relations in marriage

No premarital or extramarital sex relations

Malthus did not think that the effect of “moral restraint” would be significant

Did not approve of the practice of contraception.

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2010


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Herbert Spencer:

Nonintervention

Spencer‟s own theory of population was slightly more optimistic than

Malthus.

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2010


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Herbert Spencer:

Nonintervention

An excess in fertility stimulates greater activity

More people there are, the more ingenuity is required to stay alive.

Least intelligent groups & individuals die off

Hence, the general level of intelligence is bound to rise gradually

Sunday, October 03,

2010


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Herbert Spencer:

Nonintervention

The intervention of government in social affairs

Distorts the necessary adaptation of society to its environment

Once government intervenes, the beneficial process that naturally leads to man’s more efficient and more intelligent control over nature will be distorted

Result is reverse process that leads to the progressive

deterioration of the human race.

SOC4044 Sociological Theory Herbert Spencer Dr. Ronald Keith Bolender

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