Spencer's Future of Welfare

A Vision Eclipsed

Datos Bibliográficos

ID3524975
AutoresJohn Offer (University of Ulster at Coleraine, autor de correspondencia)
Año1999
Volumen47
Número1
Páginas136-162
Fecha de publicación1999-02-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaThe Sociological Review (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0038-0261 • E-ISSN: 1467-954X
EditorialSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1111/1467-954x.00166
OpenAlexW2009147022
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas7
Referencias citadas28

Spencer's sustained opposition to statutory welfare provisions, based on his theory of social and general evolution, is generally familiar. Much less familiar, however, are his positive arguments, made at various points in his Principles of Sociology, Principles of Ethics and other places, in favour of what he calls 'positive private beneficence' (which today would be called 'informal welfare' or 'informal care'). Unfamiliar also are his analysis of charitable organisations and his support for an expansion of the administration of civil justice to enhance welfare. In fact, Spencer was laying out a form of welfare pluralism at the close of the last century. This article explores these matters. In particular it argues that Spencer's work on these matters, or rather its neglect, should be seen as significant in the history of social theory and welfare and in understanding the present day rediscovery of informal welfare. It also demonstrates that Spencer's work on private beneficence and the administration of justice is important for understanding his theory of social evolution

Autonomy · Beneficence · Economic Justice · Law and economics · Opposition (politics) · Political science · Social policy · Social Welfare · Sociology · Statutory law · Welfare · Emile Durkheim and Sociology · Historical Economic and Social Studies · Law · Legal and Social Philosophy