值得注意的是，最近有多少关于超有机体和演化集成的流行观念，它们已经被这位演化思想家在一个多世纪以前提出。斯宾塞创造了短语“适者生存”，后来被达尔文所沿用。

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.