Spencer (HERBERT published in pamphlet)

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

HERBERT published in pamphlet form in 1843. belief in human These letters imply a modifiability of progress based on the adaptation to its human nature through HERBERT SPENCER social surroundings, and maintain the arrangements tendency of these social assume a condition of "of themselves to stable equilibrium." From 1848 to 1853 he was sub-editor of the "Economist" newspaper; and at developed the ethical and this time he the ideas he political consequences of enunciated, and sought an had already them. Hence his independent basis for "Social Statics" first important work, revised, 1892). It (1850; abridged and Spencer's philois thus noticeable that with ethical and sophical activity began conception of the social questions. The society as deterevolution of man and and the idea mined by circumstances, and social evolutions are that organic preceded the elabunder the same law, ideas which in oration of those scientific Philosophy" the complete "System of as their basis. It was are made to serve gradually developed and applied by him contributed in the in a series of articles following years to reviews. In these essays the doctrine of evolu- , and to tion began to take definite form departments of inbe applied to various of Darwin's quiry. The publication , gave a wide "Origin of Species," in 1859 for what had basis of scientific proof speculation, and hitherto been matter of part played first showed the important in the development by natural selection of organisms. As early as 1860 he had announced the Philosissue of a "System of Synthetic of preparation, ophy," already in course first princiwhich, beginning with the to trace ples of all knowledge, proposed