who is Herbert Spencer ?
who is Herbert Spencer ?
Herbert Spencer was a British philosopher, biologist, anthropologist, and sociologist. Spencer was an influential and significant figure in classical sociology.
Spencer marked his place in sociology with his theory of Social Darwinism. He adopted an evolutionary view of society and stated that social structures, institutions organically take shape and fall into place. His perspective painted a positive image of society during the time of chaos and disorder. Spencer compared society to an organism where like an organism, the interconnected parts or organs and their functions are responsible for the societal whole.
Spencer's sociological perspective made him popular in American Sociology compared to other classical sociologists such as Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Karl Marx. He also argued that society was progressing towards perfection and stability, and it does not need any external intervention. The polity of society needs to support this organic process of progress with bare minimum intervention
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