Social Darwinism

Social Darwinism is a social theory which holds that Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection is not only a model for the development of biological traits in a population, but can also be applied to human social institutions. Social Darwinisim was popular in the late nineteenth century to the end of World War II, although some have claimed that contemporary sociobiology could be classified as a form of Social Darwinism. Proponents of Social Darwinism often used the theory to justify laissez-faire capitalism and social inequality. Others used it to justify racism and imperialism. At its most extreme, some Social Darwinism appears to anticipate eugenics and the race doctrines of the Nazis.

Related Topics:
Social theory - Darwin - Evolution - Natural selection - Social institution - World War II - Sociobiology - Laissez-faire capitalism - Social inequality - Eugenics - Nazis

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While Social Darwinism applies the concept of evolution and natural selection to human cultural systems, none of the political and quasi-theological ideologies related to it are a part of Darwin's biological theory of evolution. Equally, Social Darwinism itself does not necessarily engender a political position: some Social Darwinists argue for the inevitability of progress, while others emphasize the potential for the degeneration of humanity. Some even attempted to enroll Social Darwinism in reformist politics.

Related Topics:
Evolution - Natural selection - Cultural system - Ideologies - Darwin - Biological

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It should be noted that 'Social Darwinism' is a term used by academics to describe a style or trend in social theory, rather than a coherent school of thought with, for instance, a professional association or an explicit manifesto. The application of the term to 19th and 20th century modes of thought generally did not occur until after the publication of American historian Richard Hofstadter's Social Darwinism in American Thought in 1944, which codified the concept in the sense it is generally used today. Thus the term is an anachronism, although it is still widely used by historians. More importantly, Social Darwinism, in its contemporary forms, remains a very important social theory in the United States, and in some conservative political movements elsewhere.

Related Topics:
Richard Hofstadter - 1944 - Anachronism - Historians

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