Essays on Education and Kindred Subjects Everyman's Library

"Essays on Education and Kindred Subjects" by Herbert Spencer is a collection of critical essays written in the mid-19th century. The work addresses the fundamental principles of education, particularly emphasizing the importance of science over traditional academic subjects. Spencer critiques existing educational practices and advocates for a curriculum that prioritizes knowledge that directly contributes to students' lives and well-being. The opening portion of the text introduces Spencer's views on education, particularly in the context of historical practices and prevailing beliefs. He criticizes the traditional emphasis on classical studies, such as Latin and Greek, which he argues are of little practical value. Instead, he asserts that education should focus on scientific knowledge and skills that are beneficial for self-preservation, economic sustenance, and the raising of children. Spencer elaborates on the necessity of understanding the laws of life and psychology for effective parenting and citizenship, advocating for a more relevant and practical educational framework that aligns with the needs of contemporary society. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Herbert Spencer was an English polymath active as a philosopher, psychologist, biologist, sociologist, and anthropologist. Spencer originated the expression "survival of the fittest", which he coined in Principles of Biology (1864) after reading Charles Darwin's 1859 book On the Origin of Species. The term strongly suggests natural selection, yet Spencer saw evolution as extending into realms of sociology and ethics, so he also supported Lamarckism.