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Do atheists oppose Social Darwinism while accepting the Theory of Evolution?
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
The Christian Perspective
In Christianity, the pious are supposed to see meaning in the very way that the world is structured to justify how societies should be run. This makes logical sense if you assume the faith positions of Christianity, namely that: God created the Earth, everything happens according to His will, and man is supposed to emulate God's will. As a result, they have an idea of an equivalence between the situation that is and what should be striven for. The only deviation between this equivalence is where God in The Bible makes clear what should occur in the perfect city. Since Atheists do not have a god who does this, Christians assume this equivalence is the natural belief pattern of an Atheist. Therefore, Social Darwinism, which is the application of Evolutionary Principles of Natural Selection to the human experience would appear to be something that Atheists would naturally advocate.
The Atheist Explanation
According to the Christian, if "X" is a natural condition and Atheists only accept naturalism as an explanation for what is true, then by this virtue, Atheist ethics should match the natural condition. The equivalence is false. Of course, what this position fails to notice is that Atheists do not believe that moral or ethical concerns are derived from the natural conditions since one is a question of optimal societal values and another is a question of how the world works. Atheists can make moral and societal claims based on maximizing a different set of factors in a society than the methods nature employs to organize itself. For example, Atheists can base morality on minimizing pain and maximizing pleasure or increasing fairness and decreasing inequalities. Compassion is something that Atheists have just like everyone else.
It should also be noted that Social Darwinism is also clearly not related to Evolution by Natural Selection if we examine the two concepts. Social Darwinism asserts dominance within a species based on arbitrary tribal units (countries) as opposed to individual characteristics. Genetics are not being selected for or against. The competition between the races is artificially rigged against the less technologically advanced than based on environmental factors. The fight is over societal domination as opposed to adaptations to match the environment. Culture and religion are personal choices, not contingent on genetics or instincts. However, Social Darwinism came into existence in the late-1800s age of pseudo-science which sought to justify European right to conquer the world. If such conquest were seen to be as natural as evolution by natural selection, then there should be no reason to oppose it.
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoThe two have little to do with each other. The term "Social Darwinism" is almost always used pejoratively by opponents of the philosophies they brand with that label; very few people who have been called "Social Darwinists" would use that term to describe themselves.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoAtheists, as a group, are only a group on one topic, and that is because they have concluded there is no god. On all other issues they are free to make up their own minds and set their own opinion. With regard to evolution - once you remove creation by a deity from the equation there is little except evolution to explain the variety of life on the Earth.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoThe overwhelming majority of Atheists comply with both stated conditions (1) they oppose Social Darwinism and (2) they accept the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection.
Social Darwinism holds that different cultures are more or less refined and civilized and its is natural that such "superior" cultures expands. This expansion and success is indicative that such culture is well-evolved and should would help remove or improve underperforming cultures.
Evolution by Natural Selection holds that natural conditions nonrandomly select the constant barrage of random mutations that organisms generate. Eventually, organism populations will shift and change into new species due to this nonrandom selection of random mutations.
The two ideas are not really related.
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What is Theory of evolution applied to business?
Social darwinism
What year did Social Darwinism start?
Social Darwinism emerged in the late 19th century, gaining popularity in the 1870s and 1880s. It was influenced by Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection and was used to justify various social, political, and economic ideologies.
Dangers of Social Darwinism?
The danger of Social Darwinism is that many might accept this as a true scientific principle, when it is not. Social Darwinism is a deliberate distortion of Charles Darwin's theory of the evolution of the species, that applies the principles to human beings in a way that justifies racism and imperialism.
How has the evolutionary theory been abused or misinterpreted?
The evolutionary theory has been misinterpreted and abused in various ways, such as misusing it to justify social Darwinism, racism, or sexism. These misinterpretations stem from a misunderstanding of the theory, which actually emphasizes cooperation and adaptation within a species for survival and reproduction, rather than competition between groups. It's important to approach evolutionary theory with a nuanced understanding to avoid such misinterpretations.
1) Do you think Social Darwinism is an outcome of modern human thought, or is it reformulation of a previously existed perspective in human thought before modernity?
social Darwinism is not a necessary consequence of the principles of biological evolution
What is social dawinism?
Social Darwinism is a theory that applies the principles of natural selection and survival of the fittest to society, suggesting that those who are the most successful in society are naturally selected to thrive, while others are left behind. It has been used to justify inequality, discrimination, and the idea that social progress is driven by competition and individual success. However, it is widely criticized for promoting harmful ideologies and justifying social injustices.
What has the author Olaf Selle written?
Olaf Selle has written: 'Antidarwinismus und Biologismus' -- subject(s): Evolution, Philosophy, Political and social views, Social Darwinism, Sociobiology
Those who aupported a theory that any attempt to regulate business is the name as blocking the natural evolution of the species support the philosophy of?
social darwinism
What philosophy do those who support a theory that any attempt to regulate business is the same as blocking the natural evolution of the species support?
social darwinism
When those who support a theory that any attempt to regulate business is the same as blocking the natural evolution of the species support the philosophy?
Social Darwinism
What are the ideas of Darwinism and how do they relate to Social Darwinism?
it helps solve social, political, and ecumenical issues. :)
How did Darwin's theory of evolution broadly impact social development in 19Th century Europe?
They didn't. What you are speaking of is called social Darwinism and it should have been called social Spencerism because Herbert Spencer mistakenly applied the theory of evolution by natural selection to social theory and thus committed the naturalistic fallacy and Lamarckism at the same time. Just because something is natural does not mean it is good and how this " superior " social class viewed hereditary was straight out of Lamarck. Darwin wanted nothing to do with this mistaken notion.
