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www.idosr.org Oratile and Luan ©IDOSR Publication International Digital Organization for Scientific Research ISSN: 2579-079X IDOSR JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 5(1): 1-6, 2020

Review on Social

Oratile Thomas and Luan Lerato

Department of Economics and Finance, University of Free state, South Africa.

ABSTRACT This study is the review on . Social Darwinism is a term scholars use to describe the practice of misapplying the biological evolutionary language of to , the economy, and . Darwin's theory of by is entirely focused on an explanation of life's biological . Social Darwinism is any of various theories of society which emerged in the United Kingdom, North America, and Western Europe in the 1870s, claiming to apply biological concepts of natural selection and to and politics. Social Darwinists argue that the strong should see their wealth and power increase while the weak should see their wealth and power decrease. Charles Darwin’s On of Species (1859) is one of the most important books in the annals of both science and history. In Origin and in his subsequent writing Darwin offered a revolutionary scientific theory: the process of evolution through natural selection. According to Darwin’s theory of evolution, only the plants and animals best adapted to their environment will survive to reproduce and transfer their genes to the next generation. Animals and plants that are poorly adapted to their environment will not survive to reproduce. Charles Darwin published his notions on natural selection and the theory of evolution in his influential 1859 book . In conclusion Social Darwinism truly existed in the minds of society rather than the philosopher . It did not have much of an effect on how society lived its live because it reinforced the competitive and materialistic nature that had become so prevalent in the late nineteenth century. Keywords: Review, social, Darwinism, Environment, competitive and materialistic nature.

INTRODUCTION Social Darwinism is a term scholars use to largely on notions of and describe the practice of misapplying the natural selection, Social Darwinist biological evolutionary language of theories generally hold that the powerful Charles Darwin to politics, the economy, in society are innately better than the and society. Darwin's theory of evolution weak and that success is proof of their by natural selection is entirely focused on superiority. Darwin passionately opposed an explanation of life's biological social injustice and . He would diversity [1]. It is a scientific theory have been dismayed to see the events of meant to explain observations about generations to come: his name attached to species. Yet some have used the theory to opposing from Marxism to justify a particular view of human social, unbridled , and to policies from political, or economic conditions. All such to forced sterilization. ideas have one fundamental flaw: They Whether used to rationalize social use a purely scientific theory for a inequality, , or , so-called completely unscientific purpose. In doing Social Darwinist theories are a gross so they misrepresent and misappropriate misreading of the ideas first described in Darwin's original ideas. One such the Origin of Species and applied in distortion and misuse is the loose modern biology [2] [3]. collection of ideologies grouped under Social Darwinism is any of various the label of "Social Darwinism." Based theories of society which emerged in the 1 IDOSR JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 5(1): 1-6, 2020

www.idosr.org Oratile and Luan United Kingdom, North America, and necessary consequence of the principles Western Europe in the 1870s, claiming to of biological evolution. apply biological concepts of natural Scholars debate the extent to which the selection and survival of the fittest to various social Darwinist ideologies reflect sociology and politics. [4] Social Charles Darwin's own views on human Darwinists argue that the strong should social and economic issues. His writings see their wealth and power increase while have passages that can be interpreted as the weak should see their wealth and opposing aggressive , while power decrease. Different social-Darwinist other passages appear to promote it. [9] groups have differing views about which Darwin's early evolutionary views and his groups of people are considered to be the opposition to ran counter to many strong and which groups of people are of the claims that social Darwinists would considered to be the weak, and they also eventually make about the mental hold different opinions about the precise capabilities of the poor and colonial mechanisms that should be used to indigenes. [10] After the publication of On reward strength and punish weakness. the Origin of Species in 1859, one strand Many such views stress competition of Darwins' followers, led by Sir John between individuals in laissez-faire Lubbock, argued that natural selection capitalism, while others were used in ceased to have any noticeable effect on support of , eugenics, humans once organized had racism, , , , and been formed.[11] However, some scholars struggle between national or racial groups argue that Darwin's view gradually [5]. changed and came to incorporate views As a scientific concept, Social Darwinism from other theorists such as Herbert broadly declined in popularity following Spencer. Spencer published his World I and was largely discredited Lamarckian evolutionary ideas about by the end of World War II, partially due society before Darwin first published his to its association with Nazism and hypothesis in 1859, and both Spencer and partially due to a growing scientific Darwin promoted their own conceptions consensus that it was scientifically of moral values. Spencer supported groundless [6] Later theories that were laissez-faire capitalism on the basis of his categorized as social Darwinism were Lamarckian belief that struggle for generally described as such as a critique survival spurred self-improvement which by their opponents; their proponents did could be inherited. An important not identify themselves by such a label. proponent in Germany was , [7] Creationists have often maintained who popularized Darwin's thought and that social Darwinism—leading to policies his personal interpretation of it, and used designed to reward the most it as well to contribute to a new creed, the competitive—is a logical consequence of monist movement [12] [13]. "Darwinism" (the theory of natural Social Darwinism is a loose set of selection in biology).[9] Biologists and ideologies that emerged in the late 1800s historians have stated that this is a fallacy in which Charles Darwin’s theory of of , since the theory of evolution by natural selection was used to natural selection is merely intended as a justify certain political, social, or description of a biological phenomenon economic views. Social Darwinists believe and should not be taken to imply that this in ―survival of the fittest‖ the idea that phenomenon is good or that it ought to be certain people become powerful in society used as a moral guide in human because they are innately better. Social society.[8] While most scholars recognize Darwinism has been used to justify some historical links between the imperialism, racism, eugenics and social popularization of Darwin's theory and inequality at various times over the past forms of social Darwinism, they also century and a half. maintain that social Darwinism is not a

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www.idosr.org Oratile and Luan Charles Darwin interpretation of the theory of evolution Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species [17]. (1859) is one of the most important books Evolution and Natural Selection in the annals of both science and history. According to Darwin’s theory of In Origin and in his subsequent writing evolution, only the plants and animals Darwin offered a revolutionary scientific best adapted to their environment will theory: the process of evolution through survive to reproduce and transfer their natural selection genes to the next generation. Animals and In short, natural selection means that plants that are poorly adapted to their plants and animals evolve over time in environment will not survive to nature as new species arise from reproduce. Charles Darwin published his spontaneous mutations at the point of notions on natural selection and the reproduction and battle with other plants theory of evolution in his influential 1859 and animals to get food, avoid being book On the Origin of Species [18]. killed, and have offspring. Darwin pointed Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural to fossil records, among other evidence, selection was a scientific theory focused in support of his theory [14]. on explaining his observations about Social Darwinism biological diversity and why different Soon, some sociologists and others were species of plants and animals look taking up words and ideas which Darwin different. Darwin borrowed popular had used to describe the biological world, concepts, including ―survival of the and they were adopting them to their own fittest,‖ from sociologist Herbert Spencer ideas and theories about the human social and ―struggle for existence‖ from world. In the late nineteenth and early economist Thomas Malthus, who had twentieth centuries, these Social earlier written about how human societies Darwinists took up the language of evolve over time. Darwin rarely evolution to frame an understanding of commented on the social implications of the growing gulf between the rich and the his theories. But to those who followed poor as well as the many differences Spencer and Malthus, Darwin’s theory between all over the world [15] appeared to be confirming with science [16]. The explanation they arrived at was what they already believed to be true that businessmen and others who were about human society that the fit inherited economically and socially successful were qualities such as industriousness and the so because they were biologically and ability to accumulate wealth, while the socially ―naturally‖ the fittest. unfit were innately lazy and stupid [19]. Conversely, they reasoned that the poor Survival of the Fittest and Laissez-Faire were ―naturally‖ weak and unfit and it Capitalism would be an error to allow the weak of the After Darwin published his theories on species to continue to breed. They biological evolution and natural selection, believed that the dictum ―survival of the Herbert Spencer drew further parallels fittest‖ (a term coined not by Charles between his economic theories and Darwin but by sociologist Herbert Darwin’s scientific principles. Spencer Spencer) meant that only the fittest applied the idea of ―survival of the fittest‖ should survive. Unlike Darwin, these to so-called laissez faire or unrestrained sociologists and others were not capitalism during the Industrial biologists. They were adapting and , in which businesses are corrupting Darwin’s language for their allowed to operate with little regulation own social, economic, and political from the . Unlike Darwin, explanations. While Darwin’s theory Spencer believed that people could remains a cornerstone of modern biology genetically pass learned qualities, such as to this day, the views of the Social frugality and morality, on to their Darwinists are no longer accepted, as they children. Spencer opposed any laws that were based on an erroneous helped workers, the poor, and those he deemed genetically weak. Such laws, he

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www.idosr.org Oratile and Luan argued, would go against the evolution of counterparts in Britain’s wealthy class. civilization by delaying the extinction of Galton’s ideas never really took hold in the ―unfit.‖ Another prominent Social his country, but they became popular in Darwinist was American economist America where the concepts of eugenics . He was an early quickly gained strength. Eugenics became opponent of the state. He viewed a popular social movement in the United individual competition for property and States that peaked in the 1920s and social status as a tool for eliminating the 1930s. Books and films promoted weak and immoral of the population [20]. eugenics, while local fairs and exhibitions Poverty and Eugenics held ―fitter family‖ and ―better baby‖ Many sociologists and political theorists around the country [22]. The turned to Social Darwinism to argue eugenics movement in the United States against government programs to aid the focused on eliminating undesirable traits poor, as they believed that poverty was from the population. Proponents of the the result of natural inferiority, which eugenics movement reasoned the best should be bred out of the human way to do this was by preventing ―unfit‖ population [21]. Herbert Spencer gave as individuals from having children. During an example a young woman from upstate the first part of the twentieth century, 32 New York named Margaret, whom he U.S. states passed laws that resulted in described as a ―gutter-child.‖ Because the forced sterilization of more than government aid had kept her alive, 64,000 Americans including immigrants, Margaret had, as Spencer wrote, ―proved people of color, unmarried mothers and to be the prolific mother‖ of two hundred the mentally ill. descendants who were ―idiots, imbeciles, drunkards, lunatics, paupers, and , one of the world’s most prostitutes.‖ Spencer concluded by notorious eugenicists, drew inspiration asking, ―Was it kindness or cruelty which, from California’s forced sterilizations of generation after generation, enabled these the ―feeble-minded‖ in designing Nazi to multiply and become an increasing Germany’s racially based policies. Hitler curse to the society around them? began reading about eugenics and social These ideas inspired the eugenics Darwinism while he was imprisoned movement of the nineteenth and following a failed 1924 coup attempt twentieth centuries, which sought to known as the . Hitler improve the health and intelligence of the adopted the social Darwinist take on human race by sterilizing individuals it survival of the fittest. He believed the deemed "feeble-minded" or otherwise German had grown weak due "unfit." Eugenic sterilizations, which to the influence of non-Aryans in disproportionately targeted women, Germany. To Hitler, survival of the minorities, and immigrants, continued in German ―Aryan‖ race depended on its the United States until the 1970s ability to maintain the purity of its gene As social Darwinist rationalizations of pool. The Nazis targeted certain groups or inequality gained popularity in the late races that they considered biologically 1800s, British scholar Sir (a inferior for extermination [23] [24]. These half-cousin of Darwin) launched a new included Jews, Roma (gypsies), Poles, ―science‖ aimed at improving the human Soviets, people with and race by ridding society of its homosexuals. By the end of World War II, ―undesirables.‖ He called it eugenics. social Darwinist and eugenic theories had Galton proposed to better humankind by fallen out of favor in the United States propagating the British elite. He argued and much of Europe—partly due to their that social institutions such as welfare associations with Nazi programs and and mental asylums allowed inferior , and because these theories humans to survive and reproduce at were scientifically unfounded. higher levels than their superior

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www.idosr.org Oratile and Luan

CONCLUSION In conclusion Social Darwinism truly work piecing together society and existed in the minds of society rather science; this was only natural for a than the philosopher Herbert Spencer. It sociologist trying to explain the common did not have much of an effect on how and natural ways of people. Spencer society lived its live because it reinforced achieved his goal of defining the people the competitive and materialistic nature of his era; he supported big business, that had become so prevalent in the late stepped on the little guys, and wanted nineteenth century. Due to Social very little government interference in the Darwinism, more people saw that," government [25]. Without the work of because science says it is natural to these three men, the world might not screw-over those beneath you." People did have seen racism on such a large scale not alter any part of their behavior when (Holocaust in Europe and in the concept came along. The concept America) and nationalist uprisings based possible thanks to the scientific work of on expelling minorities throughout the Lamarck and Darwin in the field of nineteenth and twentieth century’s. evolution. Lamarck had started the Minorities were seen as the "less fit" journey asking the right questions but creatures and Social Darwinism stated coming up with the wrong answers. that it was okay to mistreat the poor Knowing what was wrong; Darwin came in because the natural process had put them and filled in the blanks. In between the there. two evolutionary theories, Spencer was at REFERENCES 1. Adrian Desmond and, James 8. E.g. Weingart, P., J. Kroll, and K. Richard Moore (2009). Darwin's Bayertz, Rasse, Blut, und Gene. Sacred Cause: How a Hatred of Geschichte der Eugenik und Slavery Shaped Darwin's Views on Rassenhygiene in Deutschland Human Evolution. New York: (Frankfurt: Suhrkamp, 1988). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 9. Eddy, Matthew Daniel (2017). "The 2. Arendt, H.: Elements of Politics of Cognition: , Harcourt Brace and the Evolutionary Origins of Jovanovich: New York 1951. pp. Victorian Education". British 178–179 Journal for the History of Science. 3. Bannister, Robert C. (2000). "Social 50 (4): 677–699. Darwinism". Microsoft Encarta 10. Fisher, Joseph (1877). "The History Online Encyclopedia 2000. of Landholding in Ireland". 4. Barbara Stiegler, Nietzsche et la Transactions of the Royal biologie, PUF, 2001, p. 90. ISBN 2- Historical Society. V: 228–326. 13-050742-5. doi:10.2307/3677953. JSTOR 5. , Social Evolution, 3677953., as quoted in the Oxford Kessinger Publishing, LLC, 2007, English Dictionary 400 pages, ISBN 978-0548805237, 11. Gregory Claeys (2000). The p. 47. "Survival of the Fittest" and the 6. but see Wells, D. Collin (1907). Origins of Social Darwinism. "Social Darwinism". American Journal of the History of Ideas 61 Journal of Sociology. 12 (5): 695– (2):223-240. 716. 12. Huxley, T.H. (April 1860). "ART. 7. Claeys, Gregory (2000). "The VIII. – Darwin on the origin of 'Survival of the Fittest' and the Species". Westminster Review. pp. Origins of Social Darwinism". 541–70. Retrieved 19 June 2008. Journal of the History of Ideas. 61 What if the orbit of Darwinism (2): 223–40. should be a little too circular?

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