Benjamin Kidd facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Benjamin Kidd
Born	9 September 1858 County Clare, Ireland
Died	2 October 1916 (aged 58) South Croydon, England
Nationality	Irish
Education	Autodidact
Occupation	Sociologist
Known for	Applying biological evolution theory to social evolution
Notable work	Social Evolution (1894) The Science of Power (1918)
Spouse(s)	Maud Emma Isabel Perry of Weston-super-Mare
Children	Franklin and twins John and Rolf

Benjamin Kidd (born September 9, 1858 – died October 2, 1916) was a British thinker. He started his career as a government clerk. But he taught himself a lot and became very famous. This happened after he published his book Social Evolution in 1894.

Kidd believed that society and modern ways of life grew because of strong religious beliefs. He thought this was more important than just reason or science. His book was read all over the world. It even influenced a movement called the Social Gospel. Many people see Kidd as one of the first important sociologists. He was inspired by Darwinism and the idea of evolution. He looked for ways that human society changed, much like living things evolve.

Who Was Benjamin Kidd?

Benjamin Kidd was born in County Clare, Ireland, on September 9, 1858. He was the first of eleven children. His father was a police officer. Benjamin did not have many chances for a good education or a high social standing when he was young. But he believed in himself and worked very hard. His life story is often called a "rags to riches" tale.

Kidd's First Job

In 1878, Benjamin Kidd started his first job. He became a clerk for the Board of Inland Revenue in London. To get this job, he passed a special government exam when he was 18.

Life in London was simple and quiet for Kidd. But he was very ambitious. He went to evening classes and read books all the time. His salary as a clerk was not very high. It was just enough to live on, and he would not get a raise for many years.

In 1887, Kidd married Maud Emma Isabel Perry. They had three sons: Franklin, and twins John and Rolf.

Kidd did not want to stay an unknown clerk. He felt he had an important "mission" in life. He wanted to be a "social prophet," like famous thinkers Auguste Comte and Herbert Spencer. He spent seventeen years as a clerk getting ready for this mission. He read many books. For the last ten years, he focused on writing Social Evolution. This book made him famous around the world.

Social Evolution and Its Impact

When Social Evolution was published in 1894, it was a huge success. The money Kidd earned from the book allowed him to quit his job. He quickly went from being an unknown clerk to a world-famous thinker.

Kidd wrote Social Evolution with great confidence. He believed its ideas were very important. The main idea of the book was that religion helps people be kind and fair. It also helps people gain political rights. Kidd thought that pure reason, on the other hand, could be selfish and short-sighted.

The book came out at a good time. Ideas about "evolution" and "naturalism" were making some people question religious beliefs. Kidd's book offered a way to have faith while also accepting these new discoveries. People sometimes called him a "social Darwinist." This term means someone who sees parallels between how living things evolve and how societies change.

Social Evolution was printed many times. It was translated into many languages, including German, French, Russian, and Chinese.

The book was popular for several reasons:

• It strongly criticized socialism, which many conservative people liked.
• It appealed to religious people. Kidd said that Western society's progress came from the kindness and generosity of Christianity.
• Kidd also predicted a future where workers would have equal rights. This hopeful message appealed to many workers. At that time, many workers had very hard lives with little hope for improvement.

Kidd's Fame and Travels

Because of the success of Social Evolution, Kidd could travel as a celebrity. Between 1894 and 1902, he visited the United States, Canada, and South Africa. He also met many important people in London, including politicians, scientists, and writers.

During his trip to the United States, Kidd gave an interview. He said he was hopeful about the future for the US and England. He believed that ordinary people would gain equal political rights and social chances. Kidd also wrote articles for The Times newspaper. These articles were later published as The Control of the Tropics.

Kidd also became involved with the Social Gospel movement in America. He met important religious leaders like Washington Gladden and Lyman Abbott.

Being an international celebrity meant many requests for interviews, articles, and lectures. Kidd found this fame overwhelming. He often turned down requests, even though they would have paid him well.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1903, Kidd moved away from London. He lived a more private life. But he continued to write and give lectures. In 1908, he lectured at the University of Oxford. In 1911, he wrote an article about "Sociology" for the Encyclopædia Britannica.

From 1910 to 1914, Kidd worked on his book The Science of Power. However, World War I began, so his son, Franklin Kidd, had to finish and publish it after Benjamin's death.

Benjamin Kidd died on October 2, 1916, from heart disease. He was 58 years old.

Kidd's Main Ideas

Here are some of Benjamin Kidd's key ideas:

• Kidd was inspired by thinkers like Karl Marx and Herbert Spencer, but he also disagreed with some of their ideas.
• He believed that leaders in society were not always better than others.
• He thought that new leaders often came from ordinary people, not just from powerful families.
• Kidd believed that the "white race" had a lot of knowledge. He thought this was because of what they had learned over time, not because they were born smarter.
• He also believed that the English people were good at organizing things. He thought they could put the community's needs first, which helped society.

Benjamin Kidd's Books

Besides the books listed below, Kidd wrote many articles, reviews, and letters for newspapers and magazines in Britain and America.

• Social Evolution (1894)
• Control of the Tropics (1898)
• Principles of Western Civilisation (1902)
• Individualism and After: The Herbert Spencer Lecture (1908)
• Two Principal Laws of Sociology (1909)
• The Science of Power (1918)
• A Philosopher with Nature (1921)

See also

In Spanish: Benjamin Kidd para niños

• George Chatterton-Hill
• Social Darwinism