Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer
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
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
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.)
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.