The term “evolution” is borrowed from the biological science to sociology. Herbert Spencer, a British sociologist, made evolution a “universal principle” in his book “First Principles”. He replaced the term “organic evolution” by “social evolution” in sociology. Whereas the term “organic evolution” is used to denote the evolution of organism, the expression “social evolution” is used to explain the evolution of human society. Here the term implies the evolution of man’s social relations. It was hoped that the theory of social evolution would explain the origin and development of man’s social life and his society.
The concept of Social Evolution as Popularized By Herbert Spencer: It was Herbert Spencer, who made the concepts of evolution and social evolution the central concepts in his sociological theories. Spencer, who adopted the concept of Evolution spoke in terms of the four main principles of social evolution. They are as follows.
(i) Social evolution is but the cultural aspect of the law of cosmic evolution.
(ii) Social evolution takes place in the same way in which cosmic evolution takes places Social evolution is gradual and
(iii) Social evolution is progressive.
(iv) Social Development
The term development like evolution is not used in a precise manner in our sociological literature. In ordinary usage “development” means “a gradual unfolding” a fuller working out of the details of anything the growth of what is in the germ and so on. It implies expansion maturity and advancement. It denotes qualitative changes whether they are positive or negative.
The concept of social development is generally used by people to mean the development of society, its improvement or advancements. It is also used to mean the generally economic development of the society. It denotes an arrangements within society to make provision for a more equal distribution of income and wealth within the various sections of the society. It also reflects a state of affair that ensures the moral development of people.
