Social Darwinism is a 19th century idea that arose as a corollary of the theory of evolution. Social Darwinists claim that just as natural selection works on the individual level, so too does it affect human society and civilization. Social Darwinism gained immense popularity in industrial nations during the late 1800s and early 1900s as an explanation for poverty and social connection. Social Darwinism influenced many fields of thought, most notably sociology and economics. Social Darwinism remains popular in these two disciplines even today.
Social Darwinism arose out of the writings of Charles Darwin concerning his observations while aboard the H.M.S Beagle on his famous voyage that began in 1831. During this trip, he saw many different species of animals competing for limited supplies of food and water which often resulted in death shortly after shortages occurred. Many people called this struggle for survival “natural selection” or the “survival of the fittest.”
People who agreed with Social Darwinist principles believed that humans did not escape natural laws governing individual rights, self-interest, competition, and private property. Social Darwinists also believed that poverty was a natural state of affairs because the poor were less fit to survive than the rich, who had mastered the means of existence already. Social Darwinists concluded that helping the poor would only interfere with “natural selection” and make them more likely to reproduce their kind, ultimately worsening society’s problems.
Social Darwinism has had many impacts on different fields of study including sociology, philosophy, economics, anthropology, and even criminology through its influence on eugenics. Social Darwinism influenced both Karl Marx and D. Rockefeller because it reinforced their ideas of Social Evolution, the idea that human societies are progressing toward some sort of Utopian society, just as Charles Darwin argued with biological evolution. Social Darwinism affected philosophy by influencing both John Stuart Mill and Herbert Spencer in their beliefs concerning individualism and Social Darwinist thought influenced economic theory through William Graham Sumner’s writings on Social Reform.
Social Darwinism also influenced many people’s opinions about crime because of its eugenics principles which led to the sterilization of mentally disabled criminals. Social Darwinists believed that “the criminal class” was reproducing at a much faster rate than the middle-class or working-class classes because they were less fit for survival.
Social Darwinism maintains the idea of natural selection, but Social Darwinists feel that this process applies to all living things. Social Darwinists think that “in a social context, competition for limited resources is inevitable and beneficial”(1). Social Darwinist use Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution as a basis to legitimize their ideas on how society should be run. Social Darwinism strives to improve society by allowing it to be governed by laws of nature instead of government institutions.
In Human Nature and Conduct John Dewey says, “The modern doctrine of evolution…has been pressed into the service of those who would have liked already in earlier days to discredit or ignore some elements inherent in human life as actually lived. (507)” Social Darwinists feel that natural selection works in society, and the strong survive while the weak perish. Social Darwinism justifies their beliefs by using Social Darwinists believe creatures are more advanced than others of different species.
Social Darwinists believe some races are stronger than other races, some nationalities are more superior to others; they also think men are stronger then women; Social Darwinists use Charles Darwin’s theories of evolution to justify their beliefs on race, gender, and nationality. Social Darwinism was used as “scientific” justification for imperialism (1). Social Evolution is the process through which social institutions change over time(2). A question about Social Evolution would be: how did it come to be?
How has it evolved? Social evolution is history, Social Darwinism is the idea that Social Evolution follows natural selection. Social evolution says that “the world changes through time because of social interactions between human beings”(2). Social Darwinists believe that Social Darwinist believe people are constantly in competition with one another. Social Selection Theory states “that organisms exhibiting more adaptive traits will be more likely to survive and reproduce than organisms exhibiting less adaptive traits” (1).
Social selection theory states “it can produce effects on populations over many generations(3)”. Charles Darwin applied Social Selection Theory to society in his book On the Origin of Species, but Herbert Spencer took hold of it and applied it not only to humans but also animals. Social selection theory tries to explain Social Selection Theory does not just apply to humans but also animals. Social Selection Theory is Social Darwinism. Social Evolution is Social Darwinism’s answer to “How did society come to be this way? How has it evolved?
Social evolution says that “the world changes through time because of social interactions between human beings”(2). Charles Darwin first proposed his theories of natural selection in his book On the Origin of Species, which was published on November 24th 1859 (3). Herbert Spencer coined the term “Social Darwinism” and used Charles Darwins’s theory of natural selection as a basis for how society should be run (4). Herbert Spencer coined the term “Social Darwinism” and used Charles Darwins’s theory of natural selection as a basis for how society should be run (4).
Social Darwinism argues that in the Social Jungle, the competition is among societies. The Social Darwinist perspective grew out of a nineteenth-century intellectual debate about how to explain poverty in industrializing societies. It seemed obvious to many people that poverty was caused by laziness and immorality among the poor themselves. Social Darwinists believed that poverty was instead best explained as natural selection in action; it reflected unfitness for life.
Social conditions like good health, wealth, and education were signs of fitness; these characteristics helped people survive and reproduce under any social conditions they might encounter (Brown). Social Darwinism is based on the idea of ‘survival of the fittest’. Spencer used his ideas to create Social Darwinism which teaches that all organisms evolve randomly, but human society evolves by natural selection. Social Darwinism uses Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection and applies it to society.
Social Darwinism is the idea that only the most well-adapted individuals in a population will survive and reproduce. Social Darwinists believe competition is natural because everyone wants to survive. The Social Darwinist perspective grew out of a nineteenth-century intellectual debate about how to explain poverty in industrializing societies (Social Darvinim). The Social Darwinism theory argues that in the Social Jungle, competition is among societies rather than individual organisms within a species.
It holds that this competition leads to social progress. The Social Darwinist perspective fell into disfavor during the Nazi era, when Hitler used Social Darwinism as an excuse to kill Jews and other “unfit” individuals. Social Darwinism is not the same as Social Evolution, which is different from Social Darwinism in that Social Evolution focuses on cooperation rather than competition among societies (Social Evo).
Social Darwinism is a science based theory used by Social Darwinists. The criteria for being Social Darwinist are not really clear because they have two perspectives to their belief system one being natural selection another being survival of the fittest. The basis behind Social Darwinism is Charles Robert Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection where he argued that only well-adapted organisms survive and reproduce, leading over time to an increase in the prevalence of those traits.
