When1: 1855
When2: 1884
Who: Herbert Spencer [Spencer, Herbert]
What: philosopher
Where: Britain
works\ Principles of Psychology [1855]; Programme of a System of Synthetic Philosophy [1860]; Education [1861]; First Principles [1862]; Principles of Biology [1864]; Study of Sociology [1873]; Principles of Ethics [1879]; Principles of Sociology [1880]; Man versus the State [1884]
Detail: He lived 1820 to 1903 and was determinist. He developed a system {Social Darwinism} of thought and reality based on evolution. He promoted and defended Darwin's theory. He believed in human progress, as necessary to natural, organic society development. He emphasized individualism, laissez-faire economics, energy, optimism, and confidence.
Epistemology
Thinking relates two things {synthetic philosophy}, and so it is only real for phenomena. Outside phenomena, both science and religion have unknowables.
Homogeneous things are unstable. Multiplying effects and segregating things lead to heterogeneity.
Incongruity between actual and expected explains humor {incongruity theory} [1860].
Ethics
Doing good makes life longer and better, integrates group more, and coordinates life better. Ethics depends on society type. Laissez-faire economics is good. In evolution, pleasure associates with good, and pain associates with bad. Evolution determines morality. Ethics involves adapting, without preventing others from adapting.
Metaphysics
Nature always seeks equilibrium and always becomes more diverse. Adaptation leads to acquiring new characteristics, which can evolve. Evolution is matter integration and motion dissipation, moving from homogeneity to coordinated heterogeneity. Dissolution is opposite of evolution. Life is continuous adjustment to external by internal. Survival of fittest and struggle for existence are life principles.
Politics
Societies move toward perfection by evolution, like organism. Religious-military-monarchy and industrial-peaceful-democracy are the two society types.
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Date Modified: 2022.0224