作者简介
HerbertSpencer(1820-1903)wasanEnglishphilosopher,bestknownforhisscientificwritings.TogetherwithCharlesDarwinandThomasHuxleyhewasresponsiblefortheacceptanceofthetheoryofevolution.Hiswell-knownessayon"Education:Intellectual,MoralandPhysical"wasconsideredoneofthemostusefulandprofoundbookswrittenoneducation.Heprojectedavast10-volumework,"SyntheticPhilosophy,"inwhichallphenomenaareinterpretedaccordingtotheprincipleofevolutionaryprogress.TogetherwithCharlesDarwinandThomasHuxleyhewasresponsiblefortheacceptanceofthetheoryofevolution.Althoughnolongerinfluentialinbiology,hisextensionofhistheoryofevolutiontopsychologyandsociologyremainsimportant.His"SocialDarwinism"wasparticularlyinfluentialonearlyevolutionaryeconomistssuchasThorsteinVeblen.AssubeditoroftheEconomist(1843-53),Spencerwasaninfluentialexponentoflaissez-faire.Hisearlybook"SocialStatics"(1851)wasstronglytingedwithanindividualisticoutlook.
