# Herbert Spencer — The Origin of Species character guide

> Herbert Spencer in The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Mr. Herbert Spencer, Mr. Herbert, Herbert

**First appearance:** 0003-the-origin-of-species-by-means-of-natural-selection

## Who they are

A philosopher who coined the phrase 'survival of the fittest'.

## In the story

### [III: Struggle for Existence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/iii-struggle-for-existence)

Mentioned for coining the phrase 'Survival of the Fittest' as a more accurate expression for natural selection.

### [On the Degree to Which Organisation Tends to Advance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/on-the-degree-to-which-organisation-tends-to-advance)

Mentioned for his proposed law that homologous units become differentiated in proportion to their relations to incident forces, as a possible explanation for the first step in advancement.

### [Origin and Causes of the Sterility of First Crosses and of Hybrids](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/origin-and-causes-of-the-sterility-of-first-crosses-and-of-hybrids)

Referenced for the principle that life depends on the action and reaction of forces tending toward equilibrium.

## Links

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