Final answer:
Herbert Spencer coined the phrase 'Survival of the Fittest' to describe how individuals best adapted to their environment survive and reproduce, drawing parallels between economic, social theories and biological processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase Survival of the Fittest (SOTF) was coined by the British philosopher and biologist Herbert Spencer after reading Charles Darwin's work on natural selection. Spencer used the phrase to describe the outcome of natural selection, where the individuals best adapted to their environment survive and reproduce.
This concept was a key aspect of his philosophy of social evolution and was later associated with Darwinian evolutionary theory. While it is widely associated with Darwin, it was Spencer who articulated the phrase to draw parallels between his economic and social theories and biological processes.
It is important to note that 'Survival of the Fittest' is often misunderstood. The term 'fittest' refers not necessarily to the strongest or most dominant organisms but to those most adaptable to change. Critics have pointed out that the phrase can be misleading when used to justify certain social or economic policies.