Political Writings

This book places Spencer’s famous argument for political individualism in his The Man versus the State alongside his early The Proper Sphere of Government, out of which, after due gestation, emerged not only The Man versus the State but also Social Status and his all-embracing theory of evolution. Both are valuable as unyielding statements of anti-state political theory and as sources of perceptive comments on political events of the times. An introduction sets them in their context and examines their main themes. The book will be of interest to both undergraduates and specialists in politics, political theory, social policy, sociology and history.

• The two works presented give a good overview of Spencer\'s social and political philosophy • Both were previously out of print (The Man versus the State for over ten years; The Proper Sphere of Government out of print this century) • Of relevance to contemporary debates on the relationship between the state and the individual

Introduction; Principal events in Spencer’s life; Bibliographical note; Editor’s note; The Proper Sphere of Government; The Man versus the State; Appendix: Spencer\'s article of 1836 on the Poor Law; Index.