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social Darwinism |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.04 sec. |
social DarwinismTheory that persons, groups, and “races” are subject to the same laws of natural selection as Charles Darwin had proposed for plants and animals in nature. Social Darwinists, such as Herbert Spencer and Walter Bagehot in England and William Graham Sumner in the U.S., held that the life of humans in society was a struggle for existence ruled by “survival of the fittest,” in Spencer's words. Wealth was said to be a sign of natural superiority, its absence a sign of unfitness. The theory was used from the late 19th century to support laissez-faire capitalism and political conservatism. Social Darwinism declined as scientific knowledge expanded. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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However, in subsequent years others applied their own interpretations of Spencer's theory to politics, a school of thought known as Social Darwinism. Social Darwinism was used as a justification to eliminate socially undesirable characteristics through eugenic practices (Mostert, 2002). His Social Darwinism, with its Southern strategy of survival of the fittest, has not morphed into a Scientific Darwinism. |
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social Darwinism
