Other authors have included biographical information about Sumner as shown by citations in this "Biography" section. Sociologist William Graham Sumner taught at Yale from 1872 to 1909, where he argued that laissez-faire economics is justified by Charles Darwin's laws of evolution, and wrote numerous widely-read essays arguing for near-absolute individual liberty and the gold standard for American currency. Beyond his more technical academic work, however, Sumner also wrote passionately and voluminously in defense of laissez-faire on a wide range of social issues. Which religion did each monarch believe in? William Graham Sumner on Social Darwinism (ca.1880s) William Graham Sumner, a sociologist at Yale University, penned several pieces associated with the philosophy of Social Darwinism. The world-philosophy is in each case removed by several steps of deduction from the religious postulates. Though moral relativism did not become a prominent topic in philosophy or elsewhere until the twentieth century, it has ancient origins. (1927–28), edited by Albert G. Keller. William Graham Sumner is a more important historical figure than I had realized until recently. the examination and test of propositions of any kind which are offered for acceptance, in order to find out whether they correspond to reality or not. His thought continues to influence debates about poverty in America today. The concept was . As classmates at Yale they became "brothers" in the secret society, Skull and Bones. William Sumner and Jane Addams were two talented writers, who had different outlooks on social class. He was a laissez‐ faire liberal who was a fierce opponent of militarism, protectionism, and plutocracy. But the most influential challenge originated with the anthropologist Franz Boas. Both “mores” and “folkways” are terms coined by William Graham Sumner in 1906 folkway, the learned behaviour, shared by a social group, that provides a traditional mode of conduct. William has 4 jobs listed on their profile. The American sociologist and educator William Graham Sumner (1840-1910) was one of the earliest proponents of sociology in the United States and was especially notable for his advocacy of the evolutionary viewpoints of Herbert Spencer in academic and public circles.. William Graham Sumner was born on Oct. 30, 1840, in Paterson, N. J. By Sheila Suess Kennedy Through its grants program, the NHPRC supports a wide range of activities to preserve, publish, and encourage the use of documentary sources, relating to the history of the United States, and research and development projects to bring historical records to the public. In making his case for laissez-faire, Sumner highlighted one of the enduring paradoxes of American politics. WILLIAM GRAHAM SUMNER, 1840-1910: HIS LIFE AND WORK ROBERT C. ARNE. In Folkways, William Graham Sumner claimed that morality is actually just a reflection of the mores. William Graham Sumner (October 30, 1840 – April 12, 1910) was a classical liberal American social scientist. Duke University professor William Graham Sumner appears to be the first to use the phrase "the forgotten man", in his 1876 essay. He emphasized the irrationality of folk customs and their resistance to reform. He taught social sciences at Yale, where he held the nation's first professorship in sociology. He taught social sciences at Yale, where he held the nation's first professorship in sociology. Analysis of William Graham Sumner’s Criticism Sumner begins his essay with a definition of criticism and states that “criticism is the examination and test of propositions of any kind which are offered for acceptance, in order to find out whether they correspond to reality or not” (Sumner 632). Consequently, he regarded conflict and struggle as inseparable components of human society in any age. He was one of the most influential teachers at Yale or any other major school. Sumner’s Beliefs A nation cannot allow plutocracy to emerge (control of the political system by those with the greatest wealth and power) NOR can it allow the poorest and least powerful to either.