Herbert Spencer (years of life - 1820-1903) is a philosopher from England, the main representative of evolutionism that became widespread in the second half of the 19th century. He understood philosophy as a holistic, homogeneous knowledge based on specific sciences and having reached a universal community in its development. That is, in his opinion, this is the highest level of knowledge, covering the whole world of law. According to Spencer, it lies in evolutionism, that is, development. The main works of this author: "Psychology" (1855), "The System of Synthetic Philosophy" (1862-1896), "Social Statistics" (1848).
Spencer's teens
Herbert Spencer was born in 1820, on April 27, in Derby. His uncle, father and grandfather were teachers. Herbert was in such poor health that his parents even lost several times the hope that the boy would survive. As a child, he did not show any phenomenal abilities, learned to read only at the age of 8, however, books did not interest him much. Herbert Spencer at school was lazy and absent-minded, and also stubborn and disobedient. He was brought up at home by a father who wanted his son to acquire extraordinary and independent thinking. Herbert improved his health through exercise.
Herbert Spencer Education
He was sent at 13 years old, according to English custom, to his uncle for education. Thomas, Spencer's uncle, was a priest at Bath. It was a "university man." Herbert at his insistence continued his education at Cambridge University. However, after completing the preparatory three-year course, he went home. He decided to continue his studies on his own.
Herbert Spencer never repented that he had not received an academic education. He went through a good school of life, which subsequently helped to overcome many difficulties that arise when solving particular problems.
Spencer - engineer
Spencer's father wanted his son to become a teacher, that is, to follow in his footsteps. Having received a secondary education, he really helped for several months at the school where he once studied, to one teacher. Spencer showed pedagogical talent. But he was more interested in natural sciences and mathematics than in philology and history. Therefore, when the place of an engineer was vacated during the construction of the railway, Herbert Spencer accepted this proposal without hesitation. His biography at that time was marked by the fact that, in the exercise of his post, he drew up plans and drew maps. The thinker of interest to us even invented a special tool ("bicycle meter") designed to measure the speed of trains.
Features of Spencer as a philosopher
Herbert Spencer, whose biography is described in this article, differs from most philosophical predecessors by his practical mentality. This brings him closer to Comte, the founder of positivism, as well as Renouvier, a new Kantian who also did not complete the liberal arts course at the university. This feature played an important role in the formation of Spencer's original philosophical worldview. But there were some drawbacks to this. For example, he, like Comte, did not know the completely German language, so he could not read the works of the philosophers who wrote on it in the original. Moreover, during the first half of the 19th century, German thinkers (Schelling, Fichte, Kant, etc.) remained unknown in England. Only in the late 1820s did the British begin to get acquainted with authors from Germany. The first translations were very poor quality.
Self-education, the first philosophical works
In the hands of Spencer in 1839 fall Lyell's Principles of Geology. He gets acquainted in this essay with the theory of the evolution of life. Spencer is still passionate about engineering projects, but it is becoming clear now that this profession does not guarantee him a solid financial position. Herbert returned home in 1841 and engaged in self-education for two years. He gets acquainted with the works of the classics of philosophy and at the same time publishes his first works - articles written for Nonconformist, devoted to the true boundaries of state activity.
Herbert in 1843-1846 again worked as an engineer, heading the bureau. He is interested in more and more political issues. Great influence was exerted on him in this area by Uncle Thomas, a priest who, unlike other members of the Spencer family, had conservative views, participated in the democratic Chartist movement, as well as in campaigning for the abolition of the grain laws.
Social Statistics
Spencer in 1846 becomes assistant editor of the Economist (weekly). He makes good money by devoting free time to his own work. Herbert writes "Social Statistics", in which he considered the development of life as gradually implementing a divine idea. He later found this concept to be too theological. However, already in this work, Spencer applied the theory of evolution to social life.
This essay did not go unnoticed by experts. Spencer makes acquaintances with Ellist, Lewis, Huxley. Also this composition brought him such admirers and friends as Hooker, Georg Grot, Stuart Mill. Only with Carlyle relations did not work out. Reasonable and cold-blooded Spencer could not stand his gall pessimism.
"Psychology"
The philosopher was inspired by the success of his first work. In the period from 1848 to 1858, he publishes a number of others and ponders a plan of the matter, the implementation of which he wanted to devote his whole life to. Spencer applies the hypothesis of the natural origin of species in relation to psychology in Psychology (the second work published in 1855) and indicates that the inexplicable individual can be explained by generic experience. Therefore, Darwin considers this philosopher one of his predecessors.
"Synthetic philosophy"
Gradually, Spencer begins to develop his own system. It was influenced by the empiricism of his predecessors, mainly Mill and Hume, the criticism of Kant, refracted through the prism of Hamilton (a representative of the school of the so-called "common sense"), as well as the positivism of Comte and Schelling's natural philosophy. However, the main idea of his philosophical system was the idea of development.
"Synthetic Philosophy", his main work, Herbert devoted 36 years of life. This work glorified Spencer, who was declared the most brilliant philosopher of those who lived at that time.
In 1858, Herbert Spencer decided to subscribe to the publication of the essay. He publishes the first issue in 1860. Between 1860 and 1863, Basic Principles came out. However, due to material difficulties, the publication was hardly promoted.
Material difficulties
Spencer suffers need and loss, is on the verge of poverty. Add to this the nervous overwork that interfered with work. In 1865, the philosopher reported bitterly to readers that he was forced to suspend the release of this series. Two years after Herbert's father died, he received a small inheritance, which somewhat improved his financial situation.
Acquaintance with Humans, publication in the USA
Herbert Spencer at this time met with Houmans, an American who published his works in the United States. In this country, Herbert is gaining wide popularity earlier than in England. Material support is provided to him by Umans and American fans, which allows the philosopher to resume the publication of his books. The friendship of Humans and Spencer lasts 27 years, until the death of the first. Herbert's name is gradually becoming known. Demand for his books is growing. It covers financial losses in 1875, makes a profit.
In subsequent years, Spencer makes 2 trips to the south of Europe and America, lives mainly in London. In 1886, the philosopher, due to poor health, was forced to interrupt his work for 4 years. The last volume was published in 1896, in the fall.
