Social Darwinism is a 19th-century theory that applies Charles Darwin's biological concept of natural selection and "survival of the fittest" to human societies, groups, and races. It posits that human social and racial groups are subject to the same laws of natural selection as plants and animals in nature, where the strong grow in power and influence while the weak diminish
. Key points about Social Darwinism include:
- It was popularized by thinkers like Herbert Spencer, who coined the phrase "survival of the fittest," and others such as William Graham Sumner and Walter Bagehot
- Social Darwinists believed that social progress results from competition and natural selection, where only the "fittest" individuals or groups survive and thrive
- The theory was used to justify laissez-faire capitalism, political conservatism, class stratification, and minimal government intervention, arguing that aiding the poor or weak would interfere with natural social evolution
- It also provided a philosophical rationale for imperialism, colonialism, racism, eugenics, and policies promoting racial or cultural superiority, often supporting ideas of Anglo-Saxon or Aryan dominance
- Social Darwinism has been widely discredited as a scientific theory and is considered pseudoscientific, especially after its association with Nazi ideology and eugenics in the 20th century
- Unlike Darwin himself, who acknowledged social instincts like sympathy and moral sentiments as part of human evolution, Social Darwinism tends to emphasize ruthless competition and survival at the expense of social welfare and altruism
In summary, Social Darwinism misapplies biological evolution to justify social inequality, racism, and economic competition, promoting the idea that societal success is a natural outcome of inherent superiority
