Spencer: Social Darwinist and Utilitarian Educator

Herbert Spencer (THE FOUNDER OF SOCIAL DARWINISM THEORY)

FAMOUS AS: PHILOSOPHER, BIOLOGIST, SOCIOLOGIST

NATIONALITY: BRITISH

BORN ON: 27 APRIL 1820

DIED AT AGE: 83

BORN IN: DERBY, ENGLAND

DIED ON: 08 DECEMBER 1903

INVENTIONS: PAPER CLIP

His father was a school teacher and a man of independent views. His father believed in self-education. So, he
encouraged Herbert to find out answers to his own problems. Also, his father taught him physics, chemistry
and geometry. So, he received a knowledge of these sciences early in life. His uncle taught him some school
subjects and at the age of seventeen he had the knowledge of an average school student.

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) Herbert Spencer was an English philosopher, biologist and sociologist.  He
highly contributed his expertise knowledge in ethics religion, anthropology, economics, political theory,
philosophy, biology, sociology and psychology.

SOCIAL DARWINISM
Social Darwinism is the conflict between social groups which results in the most socially capable or fit group
coming out on top as the winner, usually in terms of influence and wealth.

 According to social Darwinism, rich people would succeed and poor people would fail.
 Survival of the fittest refers to the most adaptable species being able to live and reproduce.

Herbert Spencer- Social Darwinism Education

1. Theory of evolution - Herbert Spencer was known as one of the leading Social Darwinists in the late
nineteenth- early twentieth century America. As a social Darwinist, Spencer helped gain acceptance
of the theory of evolution which also became the basis for most of his books and teaching.
2. A social Theory based on Darwin - In Spencer’s work “social status” he stated that individual
freedom was extremely important and that the government should play a limited role in society
especially in the schools.
3. Opposition to public schools –
 He did not believe in the public-school system. His major criticism of the school system was that it
did not prepare children to live in society.
 Instead, Spencer believed in the private school system which competed for the brightest student.
Because of his belief in competition conflict and struggle Spencer felt that the most exemplary
schools would eventually acquire the best teachers and students.

Principles of Teaching and Learning

1. He believed that people in an industrialized society needed a utilitarian education in order to

learn useful scientific skills and subjects.

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 2. Learning should be a sensory experience where a student interacts within his/her environment; a
slow, gradual, and inductive process.
3. Children should be encouraged to explore and discover which would allow them to acquire
knowledge naturally.
4. A student should only engage in those activities that would allow him/her to survive in society.

Education and Schooling

 Spencer became one of the major proponents of modern curriculum theory.

 In his work “What Knowledge is of Most Worth? ” Spencer stated that this question needed to be
answered before any curriculum was chosen or any instruction commenced.
 To achieve this advancement Spencer believed that there were five activities necessary in
curriculum.
 Once again, the main goal was to teach subjects that would contribute to successful living. Spencer’s
ideas concerning curriculum were widely accepted in the United States.

Education and Schooling

 Spencer never loved old traditions.

 He wants to lead the child to a very high ideal by developing his interests.
 Spencer criticizes the curriculum of his day because it lack practical utility.
 In the educational system of his times adequate attention was not paid to the future preparation of
children.

Spencer identified five types of activities in the curriculum;

1. Self-preservation

2. Indirect Self-preservation

3. Rearing of Offspring

4. Citizenship

5. Leisure of Life

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