Abstract This paper uses London's works "White Fang," "Call of the Wild "and" Sea-Wolf" as examples of how London uses wolves to represent certain naturalistic and Darwinist facets in his works. London's use of the "wolf-dog" represents the basest of man's instincts, survival of the fittest. In all three books, London's characters are reduced to their lowest levels as they struggle with the natural elements, and attempt to emulate the survival skills of the mighty wolf, and thereby survive in their newfound environment.
From the Paper "London populates his books with rugged outdoorsmen trying to make their way through the natural world. Many authors' characters make you care about them, or wonder what happened to them ? London's often do not. For example, in "Sea-Wolf," there is no feeling of sadness when the captain dies; there is only a sense of relief and revenge. London is often much more concerned with the elements and animals as they relate to man, thus, they are only concerned about their survival and their ultimate ability to adapt to their surroundings. London uses these characteristics of naturalism and Darwinism extensively in his work as he writes about the natural world and "survival of the fittest."
In literature, critics use naturalism to describe works that give an unforgiving, realistic view of nature, with mankind at its mercy. "Dark spruce forest frowned on either side the frozen waterway. The trees had been stripped by a recent wind of their white covering of frost, and they seemed to lean toward each other, black and ominous, in the fading light" (White Fang 93). In naturalism, it is only the strong that will survive their battle with nature, the elements, and their surroundings. "This 'naturalism,' flowing in both streams, is partly defying Nature and partly submitting to it" (McClintock 55). While naturalism can be construed as many things, Donald Pizer's definition of naturalism seems the closest to London's own concept and intent."
Abstract This paper is a sociological analysis of the 2 major US political parties, the Democrats and the Republicans. The Democrats, who have aligned themselves both with labor unions and with minorities in many states, are analyzed according to the sociological works of Karl Marx, whose social politics foretold the success of the masses over the individual players in the world economy. The Republicans, on the other hand, have promoted a more Social Darwinist, free-market social policy that dictates the supremacy of the individual and is more in tune with the ideas of Herbert Spencer.
Abstract This paper begins by explaining what Darwinism is and then discusses the way in which Social Darwinism developed. It shows that this group understood Darwin's studies of species of the natural world; elaborated on these thoughts, and applied the concepts to society. It looks at William James's contribution to this school of thought.
From the Paper "One of these such persons was William James whom has been called, "the greatest"and most original thinker America has [up to 1914] produced.? After beginning his secondary education at Lawrence Scientific School of Harvard in 1961, James entered the Harvard School of Medicine in 1864. He received his M.D. from Harvard in 1869; ironically, James never practiced medicine. After suffering some years of illness, he was appointed in 1873 as an instructor in anatomy and physiology at Harvard. In later years, he became an assistant professor of physiology and philosophy; he finally became a full-time professor of philosophy in 1885."
A comparative analysis of the journal articles, "Theodore Roosevelt and the Implements of War," by Matthew Oyos, and "Theodore Roosevelt's Social Darwinism and Views on Imperialism," by David Burton.
Abstract This paper examines how, in the selected articles, both authors argue parallel, albeit different, views regarding Roosevelt. It looks at how Burton argues that Roosevelt had Darwinist views when it came to social reform in the world. In contrast, it shows how Oyos argues that a great, powerful, and prepared military is the cornerstone of a country's might and useful when spreading the foreign policy and how Roosevelt was the first president to think consistently about the link between military technology, national military power, and foreign policy.
From the Paper "As President of the United States between 1901 and 1909, Theodore Roosevelt, while being one of the most ambitious political figures in American history, was also extremely influential, both culturally and socially, and reflected the times in which he lived as no other President. His political beliefs and attitudes, both progressive and conservative, shaped many domestic and international events which took place in the early 1890's and into the opening years of the 20th century."
Abstract This paper analyses the various effects of the introduction of new diseases to the Pacific. It contains accounts of various epidemics and their effects and consequences for both island populations and foreigners. History, politics, and science combine to provide an interesting and informative evaluation of early European involvement in the Pacific.
From the Paper "While the impact of yaws in Tahiti cannot be attributed to Europeans, the spread of this disease to certain other communities, as well as the introduction of syphilis and gonorrhoea to most island groups, is indisputably the fault of these voyagers. While venereal disease had little impact on mortality, it was responsible for lowered natality. The importance of syphilis was not generally high due to the presence of yaws. Gonorrhoea, on the other hand, often renders sterile those unfortunate women who contract it and thus played a significant role in the depopulation of certain communities, including those of Tahiti, Hawaii, and New Zealand Maori. "So long as venereal diseases were widespread [...] populations could not recover." "
Abstract This paper examines how "Inherit the Wind" was written by playwrights Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee as a response to the threat to intellectual freedom presented by the anti-communist panic of the McCarthy era. The film does not claim to be an historically accurate depiction of the Scopes trial and place names and names of trial participants are changed. It analyzes how the movie promotes a stereotype of the public debate about the creation and evolution that gives all virtue and intelligence to the Darwinist.
From the Paper "Rachel and her father are fictitious additions to the historic reality of the trial in order to draw the audience to the side of the authors more enlightenment. The slap in the face to Rachel by Mrs. Bryan is also impossible due to Rachel's nonexistence as wells as Mrs. Bryan's crippling arthritis which confined her to a wheelchair. The nightmare prayer meeting did not happen since Reverend Brown is the author's character added to stereotype fundamentalists as vicious, ignorant, Bible thumping bigots."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses the text 'One Long Argument: Charles Darwin and the Genesis of Modern Evolutionary Thought' by Ernst Mayr. The writer contends that Mayr shows that the Darwinian Revolution was the most far-reaching of all intellectual upheavals of the Victorian age and this stems from the Victorian assertion of the supremacy of human rationality and the importance of the human moral triumph over the baser morality of animals. The writer maintains that Mayr's book is a clear and unapologetic outline and defense of Darwin's theories combined with an intelligent explanation of why theories are accepted or not accepted socially, and by the scientific academic community. It also shows how Darwin's theory is not a constant, but has been expanded upon by biologists since Darwin's death, by scientists such as August Wiseman, Mayr and others.
From the Paper "The centrality of reproduction in Darwin's writings was quite shocking to many Victorians as the mechanism or the determination of the origin of a new species was the inability of one species to mate with the other species, generated purely by environmental needs not by appearance, as assumed in previous attempts at categorization. This brought to the forefront one of the most important insights that Darwin illuminated, namely the slow but steady nature of the change of all animal species in the environment through the process of natural selection. Animals as individuals did not change--another challenge to the Victorian stress upon the ability of human self-improvement. Rather, the more environmental suited or fittest of a species survived, and reproduced, causing new species eventually to be formed from these more environmentally suited beings. Fighting over scarce resources like food and shelter caused other species to die out."
Abstract This paper examines the legacy of 18th century racist colonial ideology, and how this evolved into a justification for genocide two centuries later. It looks at the origins of this ideology, and the way it was used, first by Europeans and then by Rwandans themselves, and how it finally created the basis for segregation, racism and the murder of 100,000 Tutsi's. Central to the work is the argument that this racist ideology was imposed upon the citizens of Rwanda by the colonial powers, and in turn this ideology was used as justification for the atrocities committed in 1994.
Outline:
Introduction
Chapter One : Creating Political Identities From Hutu and Tutsi
Chapter 2: The Impact of the Structure of Colonial Administration
Chapter Three: The Legacy of Colonial Rule up to and After Independence
Conclusions
From the Paper "The Tutsi-led RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front) invaded Rwanda from Uganda in 1990, demanding the right of return for Tutsi exiles, as well as the end to President Habyarimana's single party regime. This forced the international community, who had for long ignored the plight of Rwanda, to commit to a programme of democratisation within the country. The powerful elite, frightened for their political and material position, settled on a genocide to solve the 'problem' of democracy. The extremists used a propaganda campaign to incite the population to murder, and when the President's plane was shot down on 9th April 1994, the massacres followed immediately."
This paper compares the writings of Emile Durkheim and Max Weber, social theorists who observed the behaviors and idiosyncrasies of groups of people to determine how a modern society can make itself better.
Abstract This paper explains that, while Max Weber explores the rational for religion and government, Emile Durkheim's biggest concern in his writings is how society can maintain its integrity in the modern era. The author points out that the differences between Durkheim and Weber are few although they did observer society from opposite ends of the spectrum. The paper relates that, while Durkheim focused on the social aspects of society, Weber focused on the economic aspects and bureaucracy. The author underscores that both philosophers felt a need to break away from the traditions that surrounded them, to modernize society and to help it evolve. The paper states that Weber's understanding of the connotations of people's actions gave him insight into the evolution of a modern society; whereas, Durkheim was a Darwinist who believed that basing science on a single hypothesis was not a reliable choice.
From the Paper "Durkheim is often referred to as the father of sociology. He was concerned that shared religious and ethnic backgrounds prevented society from maintaining its integrity. Along with Herbert Spencer Durkheim broke society up into categories defined by the function they held in society and whether or not they contributed to the health of society. Durkhiem was opposed to Weber's view that society was a sum of its parts. He believed that the action of individual people is what created a healthy society. His theory was called methodological Individualism."
