Personality and the State

Herbert Spencer 1820 – 1903 – English philosopher and sociologist, one of the founders of positivism in England, advocate of evolutionary theory in philosophy and sociology, ideologist of social Darwinism. In addition, Spencer had undeniable literary talent. He was admired by Jack London, Mark Twain, and Theodore Dreiser. In the book Personality and the State, first published in 1884, the author outlines his views on the relationship between the individual and the state by examining the situation that had developed in contemporary England. Spencer's view of the changes occurring in his country in the second half of the 19th century was extremely critical; one could say that he saw the degeneration of classical liberalism and the creation of what would be called social liberalism in the 20th century.