William Graham Sumner

Life

• Born: October 30, 1840, in Paterson, New Jersey, USA
• Education:
• BA from Yale University (1863)
• Studied theology at Oxford University (1866-1869)
• PhD from Yale (1869)
• Career Highlights:
• Ordained Episcopal minister (1869-1872)
• Professor of Political and Social Science at Yale (1872-1909)
• President of the American Sociological Society (1908)
• Death: April 12, 1910, in Englewood, New Jersey

People Who Influenced Their Thought

• Herbert Spencer: Social Darwinism foundations
• Thomas Malthus: Population pressure concepts
• Adam Smith: Free market principles
• Charles Darwin: Evolutionary theory

Main Ideas and Publications

• What Social Classes Owe to Each Other (1883):
• Argued against government intervention in social affairs
• Introduced concept of "the forgotten man"
• Folkways (1906):
• Early study of cultural norms and mores
• Distinguished between folkways and stateways
• Laissez-faire Economics: Vigorous defense of free markets
• Anti-Imperialism: Opposed US expansion after Spanish-American War

Controversies

• Social Darwinism: Accused of justifying inequality
• Racial Views: Some writings reflected 19th century racial theories
• Anti-Interventionism: Opposed even child labor laws and public education
• Elitism: Critics saw his views as favoring industrialists over workers

Key People Influenced

• Albert Jay Nock: Early libertarian thinker
• Milton Friedman: Later free-market economists
• Ayn Rand: Objectivist philosophy
• Charles Murray: Modern conservative sociology
• Thomas Sowell: Applied similar laissez-faire principles

Legacy

Sumner became America's leading social Darwinist and most articulate defender of laissez-faire economics, leaving a complex legacy that still sparks debate about individualism versus social responsibility. His ideas directly influenced multiple generations of conservative and libertarian thinkers while drawing criticism from progressive reformers.