Darwinism

Darwinism: The Five Points of Natural Selection

First, let's get an understanding of the five points of natural selection.

The Concept of Darwinism in Action

A major inspiration for Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution was his time spent in the Galápagos Islands in the 1830s. We can get a better understanding of Darwinism by looking at this example. While in the Galápagos Islands, he noticed that finch species across the islands had different beaks based on their diet. For example, finches that ate nuts had strong beaks that were best fit for cracking them. And finches that ate insects had narrow beaks that were best fit for finding them.

Fig. 2 - beaks of finches

Darwin believed that these finches evolved into different species over time to adapt to each island environment. Finches that had beaks that allowed them to find food easier were the ones to survive and reproduce. The differences in beaks and other traits over time led to the creation of different species of finches on each island.

Darwinism vs Evolution

Darwinism is not the theory of evolution, but rather a particular school of thought. Other theories accept evolution but deny Darwin’s specific process of natural selection. For example, followers of mutationism believe mutations can be much more extreme and cause big changes within one generation, as opposed to Darwin’s slower process over many generations.

Opponents of Darwinism

A particularly vocal critic of Darwinism was Fleeming Jenkin. Jenkin argued that the earth could not possibly be old enough for Darwin's slow process of evolution to take place. (He was under the impression that the earth was millions of years old instead of the billions we know today.) Jenkin also did not believe in the theory of a common ancestor, believing the changes necessary would be far too dramatic. This ideology aligns with the religious, creationist perspective.

Social Darwinism Definition

Social Darwinism is a pseudoscience that applies Darwin’s theory of evolution, particularly the process of natural selection, to human beings. Since the first theories of Social Darwinism, pseudoscientists have used it to justify the inhumane and discriminatory treatment of marginalized groups. Social Darwinists believed that these groups were simply less fit for survival and that trying to help them would interfere with the process of evolution.

Proponents of Social Darwinism

Now that we have got to grips with the concept of Social Darwinism, we can explore the main theorists who developed this philosophy.

Proponents of Social Darwinism: Herbert Spencer

Social Darwinism first gained ground under English philosopher Herbert Spencer in the late 1800s. Herbert Spencer used the pseudoscience to explain and defend wealth inequality in England, believing that the poor were poor for a reason. The true creator of the phrase, “survival of the fittest,” Spencer argued that wealthy people were simply better adapted, and therefore, found more success in society.

FIg. 3 - Herbert Spencer

Going a step further, Herbert Spencer actually opposed helping the poor, believing that it would interrupt natural selection and the overall betterment of society. Laissez-faire capitalism helped weed out “the unfit” so that only the best would thrive and have children. The welfare state threatened this process.

Proponents of Social Darwinism: Sir Francis Galto

Sir Francis Galton was the first to introduce eugenics as a way to better society. He proposed that the British elite had the best traits, and therefore, they should focus on reproduction whereas “unfit” groups should not be allowed to have children. Those he and others deemed unfit included minority races, the poor, and the mentally ill.

Fig. 4 - Sir Francis Galton

Social Darwinism and Eugenics

While Sir Francis Galton did not find much support for eugenics in England, it took off in other places in the early 1900s, namely the United States and Germany.

Social Darwinism and Eugenics: Germany

Perhaps the most devastating and widespread application of eugenics occurred during the Holocaust under Adolf Hitler. Adolf Hitler blamed the Jewish people as a whole for the difficult position Germany was in following their loss in World War I. Believing that the Aryan race was superior, he set in motion the mass extermination of individuals he thought threatened the betterment of German society. These individuals included the Jewish, but also other groups such as the mentally ill and the disabled.

Social Darwinism and Eugenics: The United States

In the early 1900s, eugenics was a popular concept in the United States as well. In fact, a large number of states across the U.S. passed laws in the 1920s and 1930s that legalized the forced sterilization of marginalized groups including people of color, immigrants, unmarried mothers, the mentally ill, and the disabled. Additionally, laws against miscegenation used Social Darwinism and eugenics as justification. It was not until the Holocaust that eugenics fell out of favor in the United States.