II

Now the differences between Marx and Spencer taken in the literal sense are actually quite salient. After all consider the tongue-in-cheek term biological Spencer-ism as the view from the left. However, consider the various conceptual premises to both arguments:

• Societies go from simple to complex in a number of stages.
• As societies increase in complexity, they continue along the path towards a utopian society.
• There are certain milestones to be reached before the ultimate goal.
• When the ultimate goal is reached, society will be most complex, yet peaceful.

The fundamental difference in most of the points itemised above, was Spencer's concentration on the analogy between biological organisms and social organisation. Marx, however, simply expanded on his notion of material modes of production.