Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) was an English philosopher, best known for his scientific writings. Together with Charles Darwin and Thomas Huxley he was responsible for the acceptance of the theory of evolution. His well-known essay on "Education: Intellectual, Moral and Physical" was considered one of the most useful and profound books written on education.

He projected a vast 10-volume work, "Synthetic Philosophy," in which all phenomena are interpreted according to the principle of evolutionary progress. Together with Charles Darwin and Thomas Huxley he was responsible for the acceptance of the theory of evolution.

Although no longer influential in biology, his extension of his theory of evolution to psychology and sociology remains important. His "Social Darwinism" was particularly influential on early evolutionary economists such as Thorstein Veblen.

As subeditor of the Economist (1843-53), Spencer was an influential exponent of laissez-faire. His early book "Social Statics" (1851) was strongly tinged with an individualistic outlook.

值得注意的是，最近有多少關於超有機體和演化集成的流行觀念，它們已經被這位演化思想傢在一個多世紀以前提齣。斯賓塞創造瞭短語“適者生存”，後來被達爾文所沿用。