Herbert Spencer

 (1820-1903) was known

as one of the leading
Social Darwinists of
the 19th century
 was an English
philosopher and prolific
writer

Coined the phrase

"survival of the
fittest"
 Spencer was an
agnostic who
believed that the
only way to gain
knowledge was
through a scientific
approach.
 “Synthetic
Philosophy”

The Educational Theory of

Herbert Spencer
1. Theory of Value:
 development of independent thought;
 importance of presenting the "natural
history of society"
 survival of the fittest;
 learning as an individual effort;

1.Theory of Value:
 education should be directed to selfpreservation,
care of offspring, preparing adults
to enjoy nature, literature, fine arts, prepare to
be good citizens;
 knowledge of science worth more than any
other knowledge;
 train the memory, cultivate judgment, impart an
admirable moral and religious discipline;
 advocacy of instruction in public and private
Hygiene

2. Theory of Knowledge:
 knowledge as the scientific study of
education, psychology, sociology, and ethics
from an evolutionary point of view;
 two fundamental beliefs - importance of
science, sanctity of political and economic
laissez-faire;
 philosophy is knowledge of highest
generality;
 man can only know from experiences;
all thought founded on relations - humans
think in terms of differences and
likenesses

3. Theory of Human Nature:

 notion of intelligence as mental
capacity;
 "If they are sufficiently complete
to live, they do live, and it is well
they should live. If they are not
sufficiently complete to live, they
die, and it is best they should die."
 a stage of evolution

4. Theory of Learning:
 learning as an individual effort;
 learning as synthesis of all
thought;
 learning should be collaborative;
 good training of the senses to
observe accurately;
 "rational explanation of
phenomena"

5.Theory of Transmission:
 science as the most important subject
matter;
 curriculum to be a synthesis of thought
based on science (especially evolution),
and including philosophies of education,
biology, psychology, sociology, ethics, and
politics
 individual to teach self, aided by
teachers, books, observation, laboratory
work

6.Theory of Society:
 progress of all kinds should be
maximized by societies and
governments that allow free
competition to reign in all
spheres of activity;
 unregulated free enterprise;
survival of the fittest

7.Theory of Opportunity:
 All young people should be
taught; education open to
competent children or adults
without fee;
 survival of the fittest

8.Theory of Consensus:
  No beliefs are wholly false;
they are true to the point to
which they all agree; eliminate
the discordant elements and
observe what remains after;
this is truth and should take
precedence

Important Matters:
 Knowledge that is best
for use in life is also
best for the
development of power
 Emphasis on physical
education
 Importance of science
in the curriculum

III.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
He believed that people in an industrialized
society needed a utilitarian education in
order to learn useful scientific skills and subjects.
Learning should be a sensory experience where a
student interacts within his/her
environment ; a slow, gradual, and inductive process.
Children should be encouraged to explore and
discover which would allow them to
acquire knowledge naturally.
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
1. Self-preservation
(feelings which warn people or animals to protect themselves from
difficulties or dangers)

For picking up the art of self-preservation,

Spencer recommends the study
of the sciences of physiology, hygiene, physics and
chemistry.
Spencer believes that a knowledge of these
subjects will help one to
preserve his health by furthering the various

spontaneous activities.

2. Indirect Self-preservation
Activities pertaining to indirect self-preservation
are those which help one
to make a successful living.
We require the help of mathematics in various
activities pertaining to our
daily life.
Geology mathematics, chemistry, physics and
astrology help us in many
such vital activities.
Spencer recommends the teaching of these
sciences because they prepare
us for life.

3. Rearing of Offspring
(To help someone to grow up.)

Spencer wants to give the knowledge of rearing

of offspring to children in the school because
it is difficult for them to rear their children properly.
Therefore, parents should be prepared for
bringing up children.

4. Citizenship
Spencer desires that the child should be a worthy citizen.
He thinks that history cannot be used properly without the
knowledge of science.
He has shown how history books should be written and
how the various happenings should
be described.

5. Leisure of Life
Spencer has a very liberal (general) outlook of life.
For this he wants to teach painting, music, sculpture,
literature and poetry to the child.
But for the study of these arts, Spencer thinks that the
child must study the science first,
because the various sciences are at the root of all these fine
arts.
He wants to make everything dependent on sciences.