Social Darwinism

Paper Summary:

This paper studies Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, which contends that throughout history, human society has been like a jungle where only the fittest survived. It looks at the origins, its applications, and weaknesses in the theory. The paper goes on to discuss the impact Social Darwinism had on American society in terms of perceptions held regarding poverty and inequality.

From the Paper:

"Social Darwinism was used to justify several actions of questionable ethics in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. For example, Colonialism was supported or even considered necessary by the Social Darwinist. It was rationalized that natives of colonized countries were weaker and unfit to survive; therefore the Colonialists were justified in seizing their land and resources. Social Darwinism also provided a justification for the more exploitative forms of capitalism in which workers were grossly underpaid and made to work in the most horrid conditions. "

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