Herbert Spencer's Four Theories of Social Evolution

Perrin, Robert

doi:10.1086/226226

Cited by 39 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…Spencer, while fascinated with Darwin's theories of evolution, saw social evolution as related but unique. Juxtaposed to Darwin, Spencer posits that a) social evolution is the natural tendency of society to create an "ideal state" in which rules and norms control individuals and abate conflict, b) social evolution is functional and, by nature, aides in the development of differentiating subsystems, c) social evolution is marked by an increase of individuals in the workforce and division of labor, and d) most closely related to Darwin, is Spencer's imperative that societies with the most control over resources have the greatest probability of surviving (survival of the fittest) (Perrin, 1976). In short, Darwin and Spencer both reasoned that diversity, evolution, and resilience are the impetus for change in the order of things, whether they are biological or sociological.…”

Section: Origins Of Social Change Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

“Change is the Essential Process of all Existence:” Transformation through Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement’s Theory of Emergent Change

2020

EJOPA

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During the early years of the American Association of State Colleges & Universities’ (AASCU) American Democracy Project (ADP), a handful of civic-minded leaders in higher education began to grapple with what it meant to teach students to be engaged citizens. The project began with seven initiatives focusing on efforts such as voting, stewardship of land, political engagement, and citizenship to build a foundation for increasing civic literacy, democratic agency, and community engagement among college students (American Association of State Colleges and Universities, 2019). Membership and participation in ADP grew quickly and it seemed an organic revolution of sorts was building in higher education. Across the country, centers focusing on engaged democracy gained popularity among public institutions, and efforts to develop programs focusing on community engagement became commonplace.

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Section: Origins Of Social Change Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

“Change is the Essential Process of all Existence:” Transformation through Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement’s Theory of Emergent Change

2020

EJOPA

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“…Werner Stark (1961) long ago observed that there are three contradictory sociologies in Spencer. Likewise, the Spencer scholar Robert Perrin (1976) finds in Spencer four different, but again incompatible, theories of social evolution. To say that Spencer's work is multifaceted and contradictory is undoubtedly to criticize his consistency, but it does not mean that his work may not be useful, either in whole, in part, or in reconstruction.…”

Section: Why Not Read Spencer?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Energy and society: Herbert Spencer’s ‘energetic sociology’ of social evolution and beyond

McKinnon

2010

Journal of Classical Sociology

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Herbert Spencer is usually thought to use a biological metaphor for understanding socialevolutionary processes. Spencer's evolutionary theory is an 'energetic' theory, premised on a particular understanding of physical principles; he applied these 'energetic' principles equally to inorganic, organic and supra-organic (social) evolution. The centrality of energy makes Spencer's theory of social evolution directly relevant in a global society faced with looming energy shortages and the threat of global warming. The omission of non-human energy forms is addressed in the context of its implications for his theory of evolution as a whole, and a corrective proposed.

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“…This picture of human development, ever tending to higher perfection, allowed for 'unnumbered degrees of difference' between the primitive and the civilized (Spencer, 1851: 416 Jahoda, 1999). A thorough Lamarckian in his theory of organic evolution, he relied on the innate capacity of organisms to adapt themselves to environmental changes (Stark, 1961;Perrin, 1976;La Vergata, 1995). A thorough Lamarckian in his theory of organic evolution, he relied on the innate capacity of organisms to adapt themselves to environmental changes (Stark, 1961;Perrin, 1976;La Vergata, 1995).…”

Section: Primitives: Spencer's Construction Of Racial Differencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Perrin, 1976). However, the finding that he employed progressive, as well as retrogressive, mechanisms in his concept of social evolution at least partly contradicts this prevalent understanding.…”

Section: 'Man's Progress': Spencer's Theory Of Social Evolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A thorough Lamarckian in his theory of organic evolution, he relied on the innate capacity of organisms to adapt themselves to environmental changes (Stark, 1961;Perrin, 1976;La Vergata, 1995). Today, Spencer's contribution to an understanding of natural theory is generally held in very little esteem.…”

Section: Primitives: Spencer's Construction Of Racial Differencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Progression and retrogression: Herbert Spencer's explanations of social inequality

Gondermann¹

2007

History of the Human Sciences

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Herbert Spencer was one of the most important contributors to the Victorian discourse on social evolution. His theory of evolution in nature and society has been the subject of countless scholarly works over the last hundred years. Nevertheless, not all of its dimensions have been studied in due depth. Contrary to a widespread belief, Spencer did not just design an evolutionary theory of upward, yet branched development. Searching for explanations for the social distance between presumably civilized and primitive societies and between presumably well-conducted and pauperized Victorians, he introduced elements of retrogression into his theory of social evolution. In addition, he biologized social structures and social phenomena by constructing a causal relationship between social and somatic features. This article discusses Spencer's account of the social conditions of the so-called savages and paupers. It aims to shed light on the progressive and retrogressive modes of evolutionary development and the biologistic explanations he employed in his social theory to explain these conditions.

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Herbert Spencer's Four Theories of Social Evolution

Cited by 39 publications

References 12 publications

“Change is the Essential Process of all Existence:” Transformation through Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement’s Theory of Emergent Change

“Change is the Essential Process of all Existence:” Transformation through Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement’s Theory of Emergent Change

Energy and society: Herbert Spencer’s ‘energetic sociology’ of social evolution and beyond

Progression and retrogression: Herbert Spencer's explanations of social inequality

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