Spencer’s Philosophy of Individual Freedom Cover Image

Spencerova filozofija individualne slobode
Spencer’s Philosophy of Individual Freedom

Author(s): Marko Dokić
Subject(s): Political Philosophy, Social Philosophy, History and theory of sociology, Social Theory, Economic development, Socio-Economic Research
Published by: Hrvatsko Filozofsko Društvo
Keywords: Herbert Spencer; individual freedom; laissez-faire doctrine; liberalism; socialism;

Summary/Abstract: The author analyzes Spencer’s philosophy of individual freedom through criticism of socialism and social Darwinian defense of laissez-faire economics and the core values of classical liberalism. His social Darwinian thought is characterized by organicism and evolutionism, since at that time sociology was closely associated with biology. Spencer’s political philosophy is inserted into social Darwinian framework, which enables him to defend free market and individual freedom and criticise socialist tendencies in a time of increasing faith in the necessity of government intervention. The subject of particular interest is the law of equal freedom (formula of justice), which is the cornerstone of Spencer’s minimal state. Finally, the structure of Spencer’s political philosophy, with all its strengths and weaknesses, is concisely presented.

  • Issue Year: 35/2015
  • Issue No: 01/137
  • Page Range: 137-152
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: Croatian