An Account of the Recent Discoveries Which Have Been Made for Facilitating the Education of ... Book

An English polyglot of the late 19th century who is known for his expression "Survival of the Fittest" believed in progressive evolution of society.
Essays on Education
In this writing he extols curriculum based upon the natural predispositions toward learning. It seems to have set the tone for progressive, public education for all to advance society.
Progress: Its Law and Cause
Progress geologically, biologically, societal is noted as moving from the homogeneous to the heterogeneous, from simplicity to complex. (He discusses philology to conclude that the English language is superior to all others.) He develops his first law: Every active force produces more than one change – every cause produces more than one effect.
On Manners and Fashion
There is a relationship between political discontent and the disregard of customs. Reactionary forces then attempt to conserve norms. Early in human development, a division occurred between the Law (sovereign) and Morality (what ought). The conflict between the two causes dissension. Dissension is counterproductive to stability and Manners and Fashions develop as forms of self-restraint and recognition between the parties. As progression occurs, manners and fashions are challenged and change. When society refuses to acknowledge this change, the participant in this anomaly produces extravagance. This decreases social intercourse and the rejected gravitate into parties of like interests and rebel against convention. Spencer sides with the dissenters and projects despotism upon conservative leaders because progress occurs through nonconformity to customs. But, I ask, can’t nonconformity lead to anarchy?
On the Genesis of Science
Scientific knowledge is the outgrowth of common knowledge and is an extension of perception by reason. All scientific advancement occurs by recognizing necessity. This entails quantitative analysis. Spencer’s explanation is brilliant and, again, is built upon progression.
On the Physiology of Laughter
Other than concluding that humor is usually attended by a perceived incongruity, Spencer’s attempt to explain humor is unsuccessful.
On the Origin and Function of Music
I eliminated this essay because his central premises is wrong. He states that all music is originally vocal. Wrong. Birds sing, crickets chirp, frogs croak, wind whistles, ice tinkles. Enough sounds exist that primitive man imitates them. His least cogent essay.