Theories of Social Evolution Herbert Spencer versus Franz Boaz

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Theories of Social Evolution Herbert Spencer versus Franz Boaz

Herbert Spencer and Franz Boaz had two opposing theories on the social evolution

theory. Each theory was difficult to prove but great theories. But both theories had it's ups and

downs.

Herbert Spencer was born in England, he is best known for developing and applying the

evolutionary theory to philosophy and psychology. The evolutionary theory states that societies

go from simple societies to complex societies. The more complex a society is the more evolved

they are.

A complex society is more civilized with different social levels of politics, such as slaves

and kings. He proclaimed, "Only the strongest survives.". Spencer explained a king is the ruler

of everyone because he is the strongest. The different social levels caused a complex society to

be more competitive, thus progressive.

A simple society, consisting of hunters and gathers, are considered less evolved, thus

weaker then those of a complex society. A simple society was said to consist of all equal ...

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