Social Social DarwinismDarwinism

::““The growth of large The growth of large business is merely a business is merely a

survival of the fittest.”survival of the fittest.”-John D. Rockefeller-John D. Rockefeller

Philosophy Philosophy OROR Justification? Justification?

Social Darwinism (as a scientific fact) is:- individuals compete naturally.

- the incompetent lose and the strong win. ie. “survival of the fittest”.

Government must not interfere unless the unfit are stealing from the fit.

The fit are arbitrarily determine by the e(lite) based on “it’s a scientific fact”

The Social Darwinists

T. Roosevelt Sr.

Andrew Carnegie

C. Vanderbilt

Justifying Imperialism (Spencer):

• “Within the human species, nations are locked in a struggle for survival. Everywhere, civilized nations are supplanting barbarous nations. Advanced civilization, obviously, has inherited valuable traits from its ancestors. Therefore, natural order obligates powerful, civilized nations to appropriate the limited resources of the weak.”

It’s a Scientific Fact

Social Darwinism and BusinessSocial Darwinism and Business

• Natural Competition controls the economy.

• Government is not there to help people, but to support business.

• Big business can take over small business.

• Ruthless methods are OK.

Social Darwinism and RaceSocial Darwinism and Race

• Only the strong races Only the strong races can survive.can survive.

• Technology should be Technology should be kept by races that kept by races that create advancement.create advancement.

• Justification for Justification for colonization colonization (genocide)(genocide)

America’s Reaction

•“Self-made man” concept built the country.

•“Rugged Individualism” is good.

Wealth is the reward for hard work and ability.

Failure is due to lack of ability and laziness.

Social Darwinism Good or Bad?Social Darwinism Good or Bad?

• Is this a practical theory?Is this a practical theory?

• What are the benefits of weeding out the What are the benefits of weeding out the weak? weak?

• What are the disadvantages of having What are the disadvantages of having the rich in control?the rich in control?

• Is there really a chance for poor people Is there really a chance for poor people to get ahead?to get ahead?

• Galton and Pseudosciences:

Francis Galton (Charles Darwin's cousin)19th Century Eugenicist Believed certain types were more “moral than others”Attempted to prove that social class was a result of heredity The visual premise here is that disease and immorality can be read off the surface of the body

Little e Diagnostic

Francis Galton, Frontispiece from Inquiries into Human Faculties, 1883

Little e vs Big E• Big E: A set of Enlightenment Values (liberty, property,

freedom, etc) that if incorporated into society would make it “wholly just and fair”

• Little e: The usually self-appointed mechanism to actually operationally implement these values

• Social Darwinism proves the scientific foundation that little e uses to continually justify its implementation strategy