One of the most influential thinkers of the 19th century, Herbert Spencer was a proponent of Social Darwinism and a pioneer in the field of sociology. First published in 1876, 'The Principles of Sociology' is a massive work that attempts to apply evolutionary theory to the study of human society. Spencer covers topics such as the origins of society, the division of labor, and the development of religion, among others. This book is a key text in the history of sociology and is still widely read today. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.