Herbert Spencer was a prominent figure in the

development of sociology and the broader field of

social sciences. His work has had a lasting impact
on our understanding of societies and social
dynamics. One of Spencer's most influential
concepts was the idea of social evolution, which he
borrowed from the theory of biological evolution
proposed by Charles Darwin. Spencer applied this
concept to societies, arguing that they evolve in a
similar way to living organisms and that they
progress from simple to complex forms.

Spencer's most notable work in sociology is his

multi-volume series "The Principles of Sociology,"
which was published between 1876 and 1896. In
this series, Spencer aimed to provide a
comprehensive framework for understanding the
development of societies and the principles
underlying social organization. He covered a wide
range of topics, including the role of the individual in
society, the functions of social institutions, and the
dynamics of social change.
One of Spencer's key contributions to sociology was
his concept of "social organism," which he used to
describe the interconnected and interdependent
nature of society. He likened society to a living
organism, with various parts serving specific
functions to maintain the overall health and stability
of the social system. This analogy influenced later
sociological theories, particularly the functionalist
perspective, which emphasizes the ways in which
different parts of society work together to maintain
social order.

Spencer also made significant contributions to the

study of social differentiation and the division of
labor. He argued that as societies evolve, they
become more complex, leading to the specialization
of roles and functions within the social structure.
This idea laid the groundwork for the later
development of sociological theories on social
stratification and the role of social inequality in
shaping societies.

In addition to "The Principles of Sociology,"

Spencer's other works, such as "The Study of
Sociology" and "The Man Versus the State," further
explore his sociological ideas and their applications
to contemporary social issues. These writings reflect
Spencer's belief in the importance of individual
freedom and limited government intervention in
social and economic affairs. He was a proponent of
laissez-faire capitalism and argued against
excessive state intervention in the lives of
individuals.

Despite his influence on the early development of

sociology, Spencer's ideas have been the subject of
both praise and criticism. Some scholars have
lauded his contributions to the conceptual framework
of sociology and his efforts to provide a systematic
understanding of social phenomena. Others have
criticized his theories for their evolutionary and
deterministic outlook, as well as for their potential
ideological implications. Nevertheless, Spencer's
works continue to be studied and debated by
sociologists and social scientists, and his impact on
the discipline remains enduring.
Overall, Herbert Spencer's contributions to sociology
have left a lasting legacy in the field. His conceptual
framework of social evolution, the analogy of society
as a social organism, and his exploration of social
differentiation and the division of labor have all had a
profound impact on the development of sociological
thought. While his ideas have been subjected to
criticism and debate, Spencer's work continues to be
influential and relevant to the study of societies and
social dynamics. Sociology

Assignment
On
Contribution of Herbert Spencer
to Sociology
Submitted to: Sir
Hamid
Submitted by: Hassan
Jan
 Roll #: 8055
Department: BS-
English
Semester: 3rd
Islamia College University
Peshawar

Contribution of Spencer in Sociology

Herbert Spencer was born in Derby, England, on
27th April, 1820. He was recognized as one of the
important social philosophers of the 19th Century.
He had exerted a profound influence in the
development of modern Sociology. He was treated
as the continuator of Comte’s evolutionary
approach. He was much more precise than Comte in
specifying special fields for which Sociology must
take responsibility.
He is believed to be the most notable exponent of
social evolution. He is also considered as the father
of classical evolutionists. In 1848 he was appointed
as an editor of “The Economist”. By 1850, he had
completed his first major work, “Social Statics”. He is
famous, for his theory of’ Social Evolution’ and
Organismic Analogy in the study of Sociology. Some
of his important writings are:
(i) Principles of Ethics-1891
(ii) Synthetic Philosophy-1896
(iii) Principles of Sociology-1880
(iv)Social Statics-1850
(v) Principle of Biology 1864
(vi) The Study of Sociology-1873.

Organismic Analogy:
An important work of Spencer which was shared
with both Comte and Durkheim was his theory of
organic analogy in which he developed the tendency
to see society as an organism. He borrowed his
concepts from biology.
He was concerned with overall structure of society,
the interrelationship of the parts of society, and the
functions of the parts for each other as well as for
the system as a whole. He had compared the
society with a living organism by taking into account
the following points.
(i) There is growth and development of both society
and living organism. The process of growth and
development is gradual and it passes from simple to
complex. At the time of birth of a living organism or
biological organism it is very simple.
It has no self of its own. But gradually due to its
development it becomes more and more complex
and complicated day by day. It changes its structure.
In the beginning it is small but becomes quite
complex gradually.
In case of society we find the same thing. At the time
of its origin it is very small and simple but becomes
vast and complicated gradually. For example, the
hunting and food gathering society has now reached
at its modern state with the changes in its growth
and development.
(ii) There is close relationship in its parts and
organs. In the biological organism or living organism
there is close relationship in the parts. It implies that
all the parts or organs are dependent upon each
other. In a living organism, for example, each organ
performs separate function of its own. Similarly,
different organs perform different functions for the
continuity of the whole. Neither the function of one
organ can be carried on by other organs nor can the
whole be maintained with the help of all the
functions of all other organs. This is also true of
society. All the parts of the society depend upon
each other for its continuity.
(iii) There is importance of the whole in both society
and living organism. Although all parts of society and
living organism are inter- dependent there is
importance of the whole. We cannot realize the
importance of the different parts unless we look at
the organism as a whole. If one part gets destroyed
then the new ones are born. There is no break in the
importance of the whole. It continues. This is true in
both society and biological organism.
(iv) There is one centre of control in both-society and
living organism. In the living organism the Centre of
Control is the brain which regulates all the activities
of the different parts of the whole. Similarly, in case
of a society the government or the administration
acts as the centre of its control. It controls the
functioning of the whole. Its different parts carry out
the orders issued by the centre of control. So society
and the living organism are similar.
(v) According to Spencer, Society and the living
organism are similar as both of them following
similar processes and methods for its efficient
functioning. For example, in the living organism, the
various systems like digestion,
circulatory, respiratory etc. are responsible for its
functioning whereas, in the society, the transport
system, communication system, production as well
as distribution etc. fulfill their respective roles. Thus
Spencer clarified that there is similarity between
society and living organism. Apart from the above
similarities between the biological organism and the
society. Spencer has analyzed some points of
difference between these two. They are:
(i) The living organism is a concrete and integrated
whole whereas society is composed of discrete and
dispersed elements.
(ii) There is no centralization of consciousness in the
society whereas in the living organism although
different organs do not have different
consciousness, it has a centralized consciousness.
But in the society each and every part has separate
consciousness of its own.
(iii) In the society the parts are not always
necessarily meant for the welfare of the whole.
Rather, the whole is made for the welfare of its
parts. This is not true of the living organism.
Because all the parts exist for the welfare of the
whole.
(iv) The parts of the society are capable of
independent existence but the parts of living
organism are incapable of independent existence. If
the parts of the living organism are made separated
from the whole, then it becomes deformed and in the
worst case it leads to death.

Some of the criticisms are the following:

(i) It is not possible to bring out the differences
between the society and the living organism. Society
is abstract whereas living organism is concrete. So
the critics have commented that it is not possible to
compare the two. It is nothing but the imaginary
description of Spencer.
(ii) The nature of consciousness of the society and
the living organism differs. In the living organism
there is centralization of consciousness but in the
society different parts have different consciousness
of their own. So the society and the living organism
cannot be compared with each other on this ground.
(iii) Another criticism is regarding their birth, growth
and death. It is said that the process of birth, growth
and death of the living organism is purely different
from the society. So society can never be made
similar with the living organism.
Apart from the above criticisms Spencer himself has
also contradicted his own views.
References:
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/sociology/the-contribution-of-herbert-spencer-to-sociology-1110-
words/6268/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Spencer

http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Herbert_Spencer.aspx