It was initiated by the French sociologist and philosopher Little. In his book The Educational Evolution of Ethnic Groups, he believes that educational phenomenon exists not only in human society, but also in the animal kingdom long before human beings appeared. Caring for animals and caring for small animals is an educational act. There are also teachers and students in the insect world.

The existence of survival competition is the foundation of education. In order to preserve their species, animals instinctively transfer their "knowledge" and "skills" to small animals.

Subsequent development of this theory:

Percy Neng1923, a British educator, pointed out in his speech "Human Education" delivered at the general meeting of the Education Science Group of the British Association: "Education is a biological process from its origin. Not only all human societies have education, no matter how primitive this society is, even higher animals have low-level education.

The reason why I call education a biological process means that education is a natural form corresponding to national needs and national life, not an acquired form. Education needs neither careful consideration nor scientific guidance. It is an inevitable behavior rooted in instinct. "

The biological origin theorists of education attribute the origin of education to the instinctive behavior of animals, and to the innate biological behavior similar to animal instinct. The educational process is an instinctive process according to biological laws, completely denying the difference between humans and animals and the sociality of education.