Effects of Social Darwinism
Introduction
The Effects of Social Darwinism on the social trends of the 19th century.
“As a world view, Darwinism cannot of course be refuted, since Faith is, always has been, and always will be, stronger than facts. “ - Francis P. Yockey
Social Darwinism is a theory that competition among all individuals, groups, nations or ideas drives social evolution in human societies. The term draws upon Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, where competition between individual organisms drives biological evolutionary change through the survival of the fittest. The term was popularized in 1944 by the American historian Richard Hofstadter, and has generally been used by critics rather than advocates of what the term is supposed to represent. This new social Darwinism approach to the social trends of the united states created many controversial issues arise and conflict with the existence of already stabilized beliefs. It slowly influenced all aspects of life, and influenced the major social trends of the late 19th century more and more. This caused a great number of changes in the short time period in this century, and forever changed the past present and future of the American social trends. The Darwinism Theory not only affected the science world greatly, but it’s modification into Social Darwinism also greatly changed the U.S. social trends of the 19th century in many significant views.
Chapter 1: The Social Darwinism Theory Social Darwinism is a belief, popular in the late Victorian era in England, America, and elsewhere, which states that the strongest or fittest should survive and flourish in society, while the weak and unfit should be allowed to die. The theory was chiefly expounded by Herbert Spencer , whose ethical philosophies always held an elitist view and received a boost from the application of Darwinian ideas such as adaptation and natural selection. Many negative reactions to Darwinism come from the confusion of Darwinism as a
The Effects of Social Darwinism on the social trends of the 19th century.
“As a world view, Darwinism cannot of course be refuted, since Faith is, always has been, and always will be, stronger than facts. “ - Francis P. Yockey
Social Darwinism is a theory that competition among all individuals, groups, nations or ideas drives social evolution in human societies. The term draws upon Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, where competition between individual organisms drives biological evolutionary change through the survival of the fittest. The term was popularized in 1944 by the American historian Richard Hofstadter, and has generally been used by critics rather than advocates of what the term is supposed to represent. This new social Darwinism approach to the social trends of the united states created many controversial issues arise and conflict with the existence of already stabilized beliefs. It slowly influenced all aspects of life, and influenced the major social trends of the late 19th century more and more. This caused a great number of changes in the short time period in this century, and forever changed the past present and future of the American social trends. The Darwinism Theory not only affected the science world greatly, but it’s modification into Social Darwinism also greatly changed the U.S. social trends of the 19th century in many significant views.
Chapter 1: The Social Darwinism Theory Social Darwinism is a belief, popular in the late Victorian era in England, America, and elsewhere, which states that the strongest or fittest should survive and flourish in society, while the weak and unfit should be allowed to die. The theory was chiefly expounded by Herbert Spencer , whose ethical philosophies always held an elitist view and received a boost from the application of Darwinian ideas such as adaptation and natural selection. Many negative reactions to Darwinism come from the confusion of Darwinism as a
Bibliography: Darwinism: Critical Reviews from Dublin Review, Edinburgh Review, Quarterly Review (1977 edition) reprints 19th century reviews and essays Fiske, John Hawkins, Mike. Social Darwinism in European and American Thought, 1860-1945: Nature as Model and Nature as Threat. Cambridge University Press, 1997. Hofstadter, Richard. Social Darwinism in American Thought. Beacon Press, 1992. Hosle, Vittorio. Darwinism & Philosophy. University of Notre Dame Press, 2005. Kung, Hans. Does God Exist? New York: Vintage Books, Adivision of Random Mouse, 1967. Nagel, Ernest. Darwinism in Philosophy, Social Science and Policy. Cambridge University Press, 2000. What is Social Darwinism. 2002-2008. 28 April 2008 <http://www.allaboutscience.org/what-is-social-darwinism-faq.htm>.