斯宾塞(1820--1903)生于一个教师的家庭,十七岁在铁路局担任土木工程的职务。1858年,他根据进化论的原则,解释一切自然现象和社会现象,打算写一整套人类所有知识的“综合哲学”。他用三十多年时间,完成了这一巨著。为十九世纪下半期英国最著名的哲学家和教育家。斯宾塞的《教育论》共分《什么是最有价值的知识》、《智育》、《德育》和《体育》四部分,先后刊载于英国各杂志上,至1861年汇集成书。他的教育学说是以实证论和不可知沦为其哲学基础的。这实际是唯心论的一种变种。斯宾塞教育学说的积极作用,在于抨击当时英国教育中的古典主义、经院主义,大力提倡实科教育,并强调实用、自动和兴趣等教学原则。指 Spencer (1820-903) was born in a teacher’s family and was civil engineering at the Railway Administration at the age of seventeen. In 1858, according to the principle of evolution, he explained all natural and social phenomena and intended to write a comprehensive philosophy of all human knowledge. He spent more than thirty years to complete this monograph. Britain’s most famous philosopher and educator in the second half of the nineteenth century. Spencer’s “Theory of Education” is divided into “what is the most valuable knowledge”, “intellectual education”, “moral education” and “sports” in four parts, has been published in British magazines, to 1861 together into a book. His theory of education is reduced to its philosophical foundation by empirical evidence and unknowableness. This is actually a variation of idealism. The active role of Spencer’s educational theory lies in criticizing the classicism, scholasticism in English education at the time, and vigorously advocating practical education, emphasizing the teaching principles of practicality, autonomy and interest. Means