Social Darwinism

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how in the late 19th century, a popular belief emerged, where the strongest or fittest survive and flourish in the society, while the weak and unfit should be allowed to die and how this popular belief was called Social Darwinism. It examines how a variety of past and present social policies and theories is characterized by this thought, from attempts to lessen the authority of the government to theories that look at the biological causes of human behavior and how the theories of evolution of Charles Darwin, a British naturalist and Herbert Spencer, one of the first sociologist and a British social philosopher, established this belief.

Outline:
Fabianism
Social Darwinism and Fabianism

From the Paper:

"Over the supernatural in human development, Darwin's discussion of evolution was unique. Under certain conditions, individuals with certain physical and mental traits were allowed to succeed more often than others. And this phenomenon defines new species, which were more different from their descendants, due to the accumulation of traits in the population over time. In 1871, he wrote the Descent of Man. He felt that social nature such as pity and moral sentiments also evolved by natural selection, and that the societies where they occur, was strengthened by this. Darwin's findings and the concept of God's creation was a total conflict, and so, his native England, as well as the rest of the world was swayed."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Social Darwinism. http://library.thinkquest.org/C004367/eh4.shtml
• Fabian Society. http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/fabian-society/history.html

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• Analytical Essay # 4029 : "Class Conduct: Social Darwinism and the Industrial Elite"

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