Herbert Spencer's The Man Versus the State
In "The Man Versus the State," Herbert Spencer makes a case against government intervention in society. He argues that people are naturally unequal, and that this inequality is necessary for the proper functioning of society. He claims that the government should not try to help the poor, because this would only lead to the deterioration of society
Spencer's argument is based on the idea of survival of the fittest. He believes that society is like a Darwinian struggle, in which the strong survive and the weak perish. He argues that the government should not help the poor, because this would interfere with the natural process of selection.
Margaret, "the gutter child," is an example of someone who Spencer believes would not survive in a Darwinian struggle. He argues that she is too weak and too dependent on others to survive. He believes that the government should not help her, because doing so would only prolong her suffering.
I disagree with Spencer's argument. I believe that the government has a responsibility to help the poor. I believe that Margaret is just as deserving of help as anyone else. I believe that she has the same potential as anyone else to succeed in life. I believe that the government should help her, because doing so would give her a chance to live a better life.