Herbert Spencer explained the evolution of society by drawing parallels with biological evolution. Discuss.

Herbert Spencer one of the founding fathers of sociology borrowed Darwin's evolution theory and proposed social Darwinism to understand evolution of societies over a period of time.

Parallels between social and biological evolution.

(1) Organic Analogy: → Spencer considered society as social organism with various social institutions as organs. Organs play an important role in maintining organism.

(2) simple to complex evolution: → According to Spencer societies evolved from simple homogenous societies

to complex heterogenous societies similar to biological evolution.

(3) Survival of the fittest:

→ According to Spencer only those social structures and institutions will survive which can adapt to change in time.

Ex Family as an institution → Joint family → Nuclear family.

(4) Differentiation and Integration:

→ According to Spencer with time social roles will become specialised which leads to integration, due to interdependence similar to environmental interdependence of animals.

[Criticism]

→ Justification of inequality → Over simplification of complex society → Neglects human consciousness