Essay on Social Darwinism

Charles Darwin developed a theory of biological evolution that stated all species evolved from other species through natural selection. Herbert Spencer followed up with this theory by coining the phrase ‘survival of the fittest’ as a way to describe natural selection. This theory grew among scientist, but the Fundamentalist Christians opposed Darwinism because it goes against their core beliefs. Some used it as a way to justify classifying some people as second-rate and how they treated those people. Darwinism also played a major role in America’s immigration policy and furthermore is one of the main reason for the start of World War I.

It held that only fierce competition could produce progress. Applying the principle of "survival of the fittest" to society, they argued that intervening to assist the poor violated laws of nature and would only impede progress." also, Social Darwinism appealed to Americans as it allowed them to do and treat others in a way that was not

Social Darwinism is based on Charles Darwins thoery of natural evalution. They based a persons fitness off of weath, social status, and property. Poor poeple were seen as lazy, and less fit to survive. They decided that anyone could have a good work ethic, intelligence, and perserverance. Supported the idea of goverment policies should not regulate the market place or atempt social reform. Social Darwinism was also used by Andrew Caenagie and other Industrialists to support thier business practices.

Throughout the Gilded Age, Social Darwinism gained attention as a justification for the huge class gap in American society. They argued that the most capable and strongest being on top was needed for economic growth and progression. They vocalized that trying to change the wage system or revolt against the capitol would kill the economy and make them lose the progress they had imagined. Others still argued with these people, showing that there was no reason the the inequality and injustices the working class faced. William Graham Sumner, a man who believed in social Darwinism, argued that if you took away from the people who did well and gave it to the people who did not exceed in life, that it would be unacceptable and horrible.

Just as it seemed things could not get any worse for the workers, the idea of Social Darwinism was re-introduced and gave no help to the workers. According to Social Darwinism evolution was “as natural a process in human society as in nature, and government must not interfere” (Foner 662). This concept concluded that only the fittest will survive and be able to prosper. According to Sumner, taking from those who have done better and giving it to the worse would be destroying liberty (Sumner 35). “The former carries society forward and favors all its best members; the latter carries society downwards and favors all its worst members” (Sumner 35). Many people accepted this idea and saw it as the reason behind poor workers and that nothing should be changed, making freedom for workers

William Graham Sumner was a social Darwinist who said “it is impossible that the man with capital and the man without capital should be equal. (Sumner,36)” Social Darwinists believed that evolution of human society was just as evolution in nature. Governments should not interfere

Social Darwinism is a theory that individuals, peoples, and groups are subject to darwinian laws of natural selection. Another way to describe social darwinism is survival of the fittest. The strongest and the smartest will survive. It is now largely discredited, it was advocated in the late 19th and early 20th century by Herbert Spencer and others. It was used to justify political conservation, imperialism, to discourage intervention and reform and racism. This theory was used to support the laissez faire capitalism and political conservatism.

The concept of Social Darwinism was a widely accepted theory in the nineteenth-century. Various intellectual, and political figures from each side of the political spectrum grasped the theory and interpreted it in various ways. In this paper, we will discuss three different nineteenth-century thinkers and their conception of Social Darwinism. The conservative, Heinrich von Treitschke, and liberal Herbert Spencer both gave arguments on the usefulness of competition between people on a global scale. The anarchist, Peter Kropotkin, refuted the belief of constant competition among members of the same species and emphasized mutual aid.

Social Darwinism is based off of Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection. He uses the concept of survival of the fittest. This was used to justify class distinctions and to explain the reason for poverty. Modern science declared that the failure to advance in society was due to the lack of self reliance and determination. They acted down on people who needed government aid. Even during the depression people still believed the notion that the poor were responsible for their fate. The idea of natural superiority was around since the Civil War. So much so, we thought it was okay to own human beings.

Natural selection is the process in which heritable traits that make it more likely for organisms to survive and successfully reproduce become more common in a population over successive generations. Each of us individuals is specifically shaped and formed by our own genetic pattern. We inherit this pattern half from are mother and half from are father. The cause of this is the proximate cause that led it’s phenotype to ultimate causes. Much of we know today about evolution derives from the late great pioneer, Charles Darwin. Charles Darwin was an english naturalist that even from an early age was very interested in outdoor pursuits. Early in his prep career his father tried sending him to the University of Edinburg to pursue his medical

The elite’s definition of freedom began to focus on laissez faire economics and property rights. They believed that control over the expression of property rights was paramount to freedom and that government and labor unions should not interfere. Such interference, they believed, would be detrimental to freedom and the public good. They embraced a “negative” definition of freedom that promoted unregulated and unrestricted free markets and limited government. With views that were increasingly influenced by Social Darwinism, they believed that interference would go against natural law and social evolution. Social Darwinist thinkers took what Darwin had to say about evolution, overly simplified it, and tried to apply it to social problems. They suggested that evolution occurred in societies just as it does in nature. With this mentality, they believed themselves and corporate industry as the fittest and best adapted to a changing world and economy, which they felt was evidenced by their wealth, power, and dominance in the market place. Given this thinking, they felt they were better suited than

Spencer's theory was applied in order to oppose social reform and government intervention in the private business sector. (2)

The first advocate of the social Darwinism theory had a major impact on the American society as a whole, starting from economic bases, to the big business minds of the time. In the United States, Spencer gained considerable support among intellectuals and some businessmen, including steel manufacturer Andrew Carnegie, who served as Spencer’s host during his visit to the United States in 1883. The most prominent American social Darwinist of the 1880s was William Graham Sumner, who on several occasions told audiences that there was no alternative to the “survival of the fittest” theory. Critics of social Darwinism seized on these comments to argue that Sumner advocated a “dog-eat-dog” philosophy of human behavior that justified oppressive social policies. Some later historians have argued that Sumner’s critics took his statements out of context and misrepresented his views.

Charles Darwin broached the theory of natural selection in his book the Origin of Species, which has been considered the basis of evolutionary biology to this day. Natural selection is when populations of a species evolve over the course of many generations. Darwin believed that species were not created separately, but instead, species were derived from one another. In other words, the evolution of species creates many variations among creatures, and this is because all of those species came from a common ancestor, and characteristics changed to increase the species chance of survival.

Charles Darwin was a man who shaped the way in which we think about evolution in modern times. He brought forth and described the theory of natural selection and survival of the fittest. To fully understand modern evolutionary thoughts it is necessary for one to completely understand the early theories of Charles Darwin. In this paper I will provide the reader with a complete background on Charles Darwin, describe his voyage on the HMS Beagle, and discuss his theory of natural selection.