nonintervention
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SOCL /ANTH 302 Sociological Theory: Herbert Spencer Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 1 Herbert Spencer 1820 - 1903 Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 2 Herbert Spencer Born April 27, 1820 in Derby, England Located in the heart of British industry Oldest of nine children, the only to survive Religious/political/philosophical background Nonconformist Dissenters Partial Quaker in thinking Supported laissez-faire economics (Coser 1977:102-103; Perdue 1986:56) Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 3 Herbert Spencer Taught at home by his father and later his uncle Education--heavy in science--very light in Latin, Greek, English, and History By age 16 he had a good background in mathematics and the natural sciences Never would become a generally educated individual Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 4 Herbert Spencer In 1837 (at the age of 17) he became an engineer at London and Birmingham Railroad Later he worked as a draftsman for the Birmingham Railway Discharged in 1841 Returned home to Derby Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 5 Herbert Spencer Next few years published several articles in the radical press “The Proper Sphere of Government” Argued for an extreme restriction of the scope of government • Field of human activity (except for policing) should be left to private enterprise • No poor laws, no national education, no established church, no restrictions on commerce, and no factory legislation Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 6 Herbert Spencer In 1850, finished first book, Social Statics Based on “The Proper Sphere of Government” • laissez faire view of government Disagreed with Comte on “ government intervention.” Comte visualized a “social priest” (with governmental powers) would fine tune society to run as smoothly as possible. • Similar to the role of the chairperson of the Federal Reserve (in the United States) in fine tuning the economy via changing interest rates. Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 7 Herbert Spencer The basic argument of Social Statics Human happiness can be achieved only when individuals can satisfy their needs and desires without infringing on the rights of others to do the same. Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 8 Herbert Spencer Each member of the race. . .must not only be endowed with faculties enabling him to receive the highest enjoyment in the act of living, but must be so constituted that he may obtain full satisfaction for every desire, without diminishing the power of others to obtain like satisfaction: nay, to fulfill the purpose perfectly, must derive pleasure from seeing pleasure in others. Tuesday, March 22, 2016 (Spencer [1850] 1888:448) ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 9 Herbert Spencer “The Developmental Hypothesis” 1852, seven years prior to Darwin’s Origin of Species Expounded and advocated a theory of evolution Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 10 Herbert Spencer In 1853 received a sizable inheritance from uncle’s estate Life of a private scholar A lifelong bachelor Lived frugally in various lodgings and rooming houses in London Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 11 Herbert Spencer Around 1854, suffered from a nervous illness--at times unable to concentrate, write, or even to read Attempted to overcome acute insomnia with heavy doses of opium Eventually retreated from society, became a semi-hermit Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 12 Herbert Spencer Principles of Biology (several volumes 18641867) Textbook used at Oxford The Study of Sociology (1873) Textbook used at Yale University William Graham Sumner taught Spencerism at Yale Principles of Psychology (two volumes 18701872) Textbook used at Harvard University Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 13 Herbert Spencer Refused nearly all honors offered by universities, the government, or scientific bodies. No official position No university degree. An international reputation Influence almost comparable to that of Charles Darwin. Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 14 Herbert Spencer Class of Theories: Organicism Societal Evolution--Social Darwinism “Society is akin to a special organism obeying its own laws of ‘progress.’” The natural order of all societies is one of hierarchy. (Perdue 1986:47) Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 15 Herbert Spencer Almost a decade before Darwin published On the Origin of Species, Spencer coined the phrase “survival of the fittest.” Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 16 Herbert Spencer Comte allied sociology with biology Arguing that in the hierarchy of the sciences, Sociology would emerge from biology and become the “queen science” Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 17 Herbert Spencer Spencer did more than make superficial analogies between biological & social bodies Proclaimed that sociology was to be the study of superorganic organisms That is, relations among living organismsIncluded more than human organisms Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 18 Herbert Spencer Survival Similarities in Social & Biological Systems Production of life-sustaining substances Reproduction of system parts Regulation and control of actions by system parts Distribution of information and materials among system units (Turner 1998:80) Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 19 Herbert Spencer Sociological concept of progress was emphasized by Spencer. The evolution of society involves increasing complexity of social structure & culture symbols Complexity increases capacity of humans to adapt and survive in environment. Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 20 Herbert Spencer Evolution, “a change from a state of relatively indefinite, incoherent, homogeneity To a state of relatively definite, coherent, heterogeneity,” was that universal process, which explains “. . .those latest changes which we trace in society and the products of social life.” Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 21 Herbert Spencer Spencer argued, that the evolution of human societies, is a special case of a universally applicable natural law. Sociology can only become a science based on the belief that social order conforms to natural law. Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 22 Herbert Spencer Evolution-- Unilinear or Multilinear? Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 23 Herbert Spencer Earlier Spencer indicated a unilinear model of evolution--a straightforward progressive march. The mature Spencer indicated that “regression” was possible (influenced by what he saw in England toward the end of the 19th century). (Coser 1977:96-97) Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 24 Herbert Spencer It was always Spencer’s view that the true symbol of development was not a chain, but a tree. (Peel 1974:198) Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 25 Herbert Spencer Survival of the Fittest War and complex societies Interventions into lesser societies Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 26 Herbert Spencer War, has an interesting impact upon society. One of the few social phenomena that “individualistic” members of a modern society are willing to “sacrifice” selfcenterness for the “good” of society as a whole. (Per Dr. Bolender 1999) Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 27 Herbert Spencer At least for a period of time, members of society are willing to allow “major” efficient changes to be made “overnight.” Example: Post 9/11 Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 28 Herbert Spencer (Turner, Beeghley, and Powers 1998:64-68) Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 29 Herbert Spencer Structural-functionalism--the functions war serves War would not exist unless it had positive outcomes for society. . . War created a world of larger political units. . . from 600,000 around 1,000 BC to less than 200 today. Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 30 Herbert Spencer Through centuries of warfare, the state (as a large political unit) was created. . . This led to greater social stability Which led to profound positive social and cultural changes. Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 31 Herbert Spencer Industrialization & technology could not have developed in the small social groups before military action consolidated them into larger states. Thus, war contributed indirectly to the industrialization and technological sophistication that characterized the modern world. Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 32 Herbert Spencer As societies become more industrialized, their proneness to warfare decreases. . . Preindustrial nations Overall mean of 10.6 wars per decade Industrial nations Overall mean of 2.7 wars per decade Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 33 Herbert Spencer Positive Benefits of War Creates solidarity Gives society a common cause to rally around Increases employment and stimulates the economy Inspires scientific & technological developments useful to civilians Microwave oven Internet Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 34 Herbert Spencer Encourages social reform GI Bill VA Health care Housing Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 35 Herbert Spencer: Nonintervention Nonintervention and the Survival of the Fittest (Coser 1977:99-101) Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 36 Herbert Spencer: Nonintervention Spencer, the same as Darwin, drew the concept of survival of the fittest from the works of Thomas Robert Malthus. The role of “intervention” is a major/serious philosophical issue in the concept of “pure evolution and nonintervention.” Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 37 Herbert Spencer: Nonintervention Classical Malthusianism Thomas Robert Malthus English economist Essay on the Principle of Population First published in 1798 AD (Wang 1985:285-286) Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 38 Herbert Spencer: Nonintervention Basic principles of the Malthus’ Theory Food is essential for the existence of man “Passion between the sexes” will continue to exist and to result in population growth Population grows “geometrically” whereas at best food increases only “arithmetically” Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 39 Herbert Spencer: Nonintervention Positive checks Famines Disease Wars Given the human propensities to procreate faster than food can be produced, most of mankind is poor most of the time Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 40 Herbert Spencer: Nonintervention Preventive checks (moral restraints) Delayed marriages Reduced frequency of sex relations within marriage No premarital or extramarital sex relations Malthus did not think that the effect of “moral restraint” would be significant. Further, he did not approve of the practice of contraception. Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 41 Herbert Spencer: Nonintervention The classical Malthusian theory of population implies that an increase in the food supply or income would result in either fewer people dying, or in more marrying earlier and having more children. In either case both would result in increased population growth, thereby nullifying the effects of the additional food or income. Thus, Malthus looked with disfavor on welfare programs in England during his day and, if he were living today, he would probably think it equally unwise to send food to starving people overseas. Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 42 Herbert Spencer: Nonintervention Spencer’s own theory of population was slightly more optimistic than Malthus. (Coser 1977:100-101) Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 43 Herbert Spencer: Nonintervention Spencer argued that an excess in fertility stimulates greater activity because the more people there are, the more ingenuity is required to stay alive. The least intelligent groups and individuals die off; hence, the general level of intelligence is bound to rise gradually. Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 44 Herbert Spencer: Nonintervention Except. . . . The intervention of government in social affairs, Spencer argued, must distort the necessary adaptation of society to its environment. Once government intervenes, the beneficial process that would naturally lead to man’s more efficient and more intelligent control over nature will be distorted and give rise to a reverse process that can only lead to the progressive deterioration of the human race. (Based on Social Statics Spencer 1892:151--special edition of Social Statics). (Coser 1977:100-101) Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 45 Herbert Spencer: Nonintervention This is applicable to organization behavior at the micro level. Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 46 Herbert Spencer: Nonintervention Christian response to the “intervention” versus “nonintervention” question/issue. Tuesday, March 22, 2016 ©1999-2006 by Ronald Keith Bolender 47 Herbert Spencer References Coser, Lewis A. 1977. Masters of Sociological Thought: Ideas in Historical and Social Context. 2d ed. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers. Keb, Julia Ann. 1999. “Herbert Spencer: Social Darwinism in Education.” Retrieved October 6, 1999 (http://www.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/spencer.html). Mooney, Linda A., David Knox, and Caroline Schacht. 1997. Understanding Social Problems. New York: West Publishing Company. Peel, J. D. Y. 1974. “Spencer and the Neo-evolutionists.“ Pp. 188-209 in Theories and Paradigms in Contemporary Sociology. Edited by R. Serge Denisfoff, Orel Callahan, and Mark H. Levine. Itasca, IL: F. E. Peacock Publishers, Incorporated. Perdue, William D. 1986. Sociological Theory: Explanation, Paradigm, and Ideology. Palo Alto, CA: Mayfield Publishing Company. Spencer, Herbert. [1850] 1888. Social Statics: or, the Condition Essential to Human Happiness Specified and the First of Them Developed. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts. Spencer, Herbert. [1873] 1961. The Study of Sociology. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press. Spencer, Herbert. 1897. The Principles of Sociology, Part VIII. Toffler, Alvin. 1980. The Third Wave. New York: Bantam Books. Turner, Jonathan H. 1998. The Structure of Sociological Theory. 6th ed. Cincinnati, OH: Wadsworth Publishing Company. Turner, Jonathan H., Leonard Beeghley, and Charles H. Powers. 1998. The Emergence of Sociology Theory. 4th ed. Cincinnati, OH: Wadsworth Publishing Company. Wang, Bee Lan C. 1985. “Population and Hunger.” Pp. 284-295 in Social Problems: Christian Perspectives. Edited by Charles P. DeSanto Winston-Salem, NC:Keith Hunter Textbooks, Incorporated. Tuesday, March 22, and Margaret M. Poloma. ©1999-2006 by Ronald 2016 Bolender 48
