Social Darwinism extends the concept of the survival of the fittest from nature into society. Normally, one would expect Social Darwinists to favour competition and free entreprise with little regulation and to be fundamentlly hostile to welfare provision.
Otto von Bismarck used Social Darwinism to justify his policies of strong centralized government and militarism, promoting the idea that only the strongest nations would survive in the competitive global environment. He believed that conflict and competition were natural and necessary processes for national growth and success. Bismarck used Social Darwinism to solidify his control over a unified Germany and to justify his aggressive foreign policies.
Social Darwinism, with its emphasis on the survival of the fittest, was generally opposed to many kinds of regulation. However, most Social Darwinists did not favour a complete free-for-all. At the very least, most acknowledged that there had to be laws to protect life, liberty and property and that these laws had to be enforced. So, even in economic life Social Darwinists wanted a level playing field of sorts, where fraud (and certain unfair practices) would be banned. Please note that in Social Darwinist thought, there is an awareness that human beings in society need to live by somewhat different rules from human being in nature, in the wild. They certainly did not equate "fit" with "brawny"; they stressed, for example, the role of intelligence as a form of fitness, and Francis Galton and others played a part in the development of the psychometric intelligence theory. Many were intellectuals and had a horror of rule by thuggery. The early Social Darwinists usually claimed that their theories had an ethical dimension.
justify their accumulation of wealth and power. They believed that competition in the free market was natural and would ensure the survival of the fittest, reflecting Darwin's theory of natural selection. This ideology allowed them to resist government regulation and intervention in their businesses.
Andrew Carnegie, a prominent industrialist and philanthropist, owned a large steel company and believed in the principles of Social Darwinism. Carnegie believed that competition and "survival of the fittest" would lead to progress and success in society.
The idea of social Darwinism was created by English philosopher Herbert Spencer and Yale professor William Graham Sumner by applying Darwin's theory of evolution to society as a whole. Social Darwinism is the theory that the fittest in the social order survive, just as the fittest in nature survive. According to this theory, the only reason that the rich are rich is because they were the most fit to become so, and if the laborers were fit to do the same then they would be rich as well. Reform Darwinism, created by Brown University Professor Lester Frank Ward, follows the idea that because humans are intelligent beings, we can affect natural selection. Contrasting the social Darwinism thought of "survival of the fittest," reform Darwinism argues that government and society should make as many people as possible "fit to survive." The main difference between the two schools of thought is that social Darwinists believe that however social hierarchy exists, it is solely because the "fittest" rose to the top, reform Darwinists believe that the whole of society should be given the opportunities and resources to be able to rise to the top, rather than just the wealthy being able to do so.
The theory that discouraged government interference in economic matters was social Darwinism. Some social Darwinists think that governments should not interfere by trying to regulate the economy as this would take away competition and self-interest in social and business matters.
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There are many reasons why Americans would be drawn to Social Darwinism. These Americans could be intrigued by the concepts it presents.
Otto von Bismarck used Social Darwinism to justify his policies of strong centralized government and militarism, promoting the idea that only the strongest nations would survive in the competitive global environment. He believed that conflict and competition were natural and necessary processes for national growth and success. Bismarck used Social Darwinism to solidify his control over a unified Germany and to justify his aggressive foreign policies.
Social Darwinism, with its emphasis on the survival of the fittest, was generally opposed to many kinds of regulation. However, most Social Darwinists did not favour a complete free-for-all. At the very least, most acknowledged that there had to be laws to protect life, liberty and property and that these laws had to be enforced. So, even in economic life Social Darwinists wanted a level playing field of sorts, where fraud (and certain unfair practices) would be banned. Please note that in Social Darwinist thought, there is an awareness that human beings in society need to live by somewhat different rules from human being in nature, in the wild. They certainly did not equate "fit" with "brawny"; they stressed, for example, the role of intelligence as a form of fitness, and Francis Galton and others played a part in the development of the psychometric intelligence theory. Many were intellectuals and had a horror of rule by thuggery. The early Social Darwinists usually claimed that their theories had an ethical dimension.
I would hope not, but people don't realize how easy it is to be brain washed. Hitler used this idea of Social Darwinism to execute the Holocaust. He was able to do this because people are trained to listen to authority and follow the majority.
justify their accumulation of wealth and power. They believed that competition in the free market was natural and would ensure the survival of the fittest, reflecting Darwin's theory of natural selection. This ideology allowed them to resist government regulation and intervention in their businesses.
Andrew Carnegie, a prominent industrialist and philanthropist, owned a large steel company and believed in the principles of Social Darwinism. Carnegie believed that competition and "survival of the fittest" would lead to progress and success in society.
The idea of social Darwinism was created by English philosopher Herbert Spencer and Yale professor William Graham Sumner by applying Darwin's theory of evolution to society as a whole. Social Darwinism is the theory that the fittest in the social order survive, just as the fittest in nature survive. According to this theory, the only reason that the rich are rich is because they were the most fit to become so, and if the laborers were fit to do the same then they would be rich as well. Reform Darwinism, created by Brown University Professor Lester Frank Ward, follows the idea that because humans are intelligent beings, we can affect natural selection. Contrasting the social Darwinism thought of "survival of the fittest," reform Darwinism argues that government and society should make as many people as possible "fit to survive." The main difference between the two schools of thought is that social Darwinists believe that however social hierarchy exists, it is solely because the "fittest" rose to the top, reform Darwinists believe that the whole of society should be given the opportunities and resources to be able to rise to the top, rather than just the wealthy being able to do so.
The idea of social Darwinism would have likely appealed to the wealthy and powerful elite within society, as it provided a justification for their position and wealth by suggesting that they were the most "fit" to lead and succeed. It also resonated with those who believed in individualism and competition as driving forces in society.
Social Darwinism argues for the survival of the fittest, and therefore if someone has become "unfit" in society, then they would and should be left behind to make way for the more successful generation of people who have the factors that allow them to succeed in theirenvironment, the marketplace.