SOCIAL DARWINISM & “SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST”
English philosopher Herbert Spencer adapted Charles Darwin’s idea of “survival of the fittest” in the 19th century and
applied it to people, calling his theory “Social Darwinism.” The main concept is that if in the natural world, animals and
other living specimens die off when they are not strong enough to survive on their own, leaving only the strongest, then
people or cultures should not be supported and should be left to “die off” also if they are not strong enough to survive.
If they were supported, by welfare or direct aid, it would weaken society as a whole.
The theory was popular in the late Victorian Era in England, America, and elsewhere as it justified imperialism and the
exploitation of “inferior” races. Social Darwinism’s popularity was affirmed due to several factors of the time. Society
was changing in urban areas as the Industrial Revolution magnified the wealth gap and unprecedented numbers of
immigrants arrived in some societies, leading to social tensions. The concept of adaptation also allowed people to claim
that the rich and powerful were better adapted to the social and economic climate of the time, and natural selection
was applied to argue that it was normal for the strong to thrive at the expense of the weak – in this case the poor,
immigrants, or non-white peoples.
Social Darwinism was applied in society in several ways. The theory supported those who opposed welfare and
assistance for the poor, declaring it would be morally incorrect to assist the weak as it would destroy work ethic and
only enable the underclass to reproduce and require more assistance. However, some more moderate Social Darwinists
like Andrew Carnegie and John Rockefeller would become major philanthropists, donating millions to charities, albeit
only for libraries, universities, medical research, and other public goods. Additionally, social Darwinism justified
imperialism, as it proclaimed it was natural for the more industrially-advanced Europeans and Americans to colonize the
weaker African and Asian cultures. Social Darwinism also provided ethical reason for brutal colonial governments who
used oppressive tactics against their subjects.
In its most extreme form, Social Darwinism was used to justify eugenics programs aimed at weeding out ‘undesirable’
genes from populations. Such programs were sometimes accompanied by sterilization laws directed against ‘unfit’
individuals. The American eugenics movement was relatively popular between 1910 and 1930, during which 24 states
passed sterilization laws and Congress passed a law restricting immigration from certain areas deemed to be unfit. Social
Darwinist ideas, though in different forms, were also applied by the Nazi party in Germany to justify their eugenics
programs.
SOCIAL DARWINISM DEBATE ARGUMENT
Choose one of the following questions to research for our first debate on Social Darwinism. Complete the graphic
organizer on the back of this page and bring it to class to help facilitate your participation in the discussion and then
collected and graded. Please cite your evidence with an author, title, and source (Example: Darnovsky – “The New
Eugenics: The Case Against Genetically Modified Humans,” Organic Consumers Association).
A. Should we provide welfare, or is it only rewarding those not hardworking enough to succeed on their own?
B. Should we provide aid overseas? If we give aid to Haiti or Darfur, is it only continuing societies who would fail on
their own?
C. Extension: Are current efforts in “designer babies” justified today? Is it a good idea to select the “best genes” for
babies, or should humans let nature take its own course?
Contemporary Social Issues: Unit 1 – The Social Sciences
BUILDING AN ARGUMENT
Social Darwinism
You
could argue
that…
…but here’s
the weakness:
Contemporary Social Issues: Unit 1 – The Social Sciences