For much of the 19th and 20th centuries, the society we lived in was heavily dictated by the theory of a philosopher named Herbert Spencer. When the Industrial Revolution began in Europe in the 18th century, the economy changed dramatically from one primarily based on agriculture to one dependent on industries and manufacturing. People began to abandon their old way of life to start a new life in the city. The migration of millions of people to the city has led to major social problems such as poverty, malnutrition, disease and crime. The distinction between the lower and upper class became pronounced. Many of history's greatest thinkers began to question why problems such as poverty existed. During the Enlightenment, philosophers such as Herbert Spencer used science and reason to propose ideas and solutions to the various social problems arising at that time. For example, issues such as social class, race and discrimination.[1] Thus, Herbert Spencer proposed a theory based on Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, called Social Darwinism.[2] The process of applying the theory to the evolution of human society almost destroyed humanity. Social Darwinism has misinterpreted the sociological evolution of humans to justify differences between inferiors and superiors in society, in which it has inspired movements ostensibly aimed at advancing the human race, such as the application of eugenics, sterilization and Nazi racial propaganda. Say no. to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay To begin with, Social Darwinism is based on the theory of natural selection fused by Charles Darwin. In 1859, Charles Darwin published the book On the Origins of Species, which discussed the evolution of plants and animals as a result of competition for survival. Darwin proposed that the cause of a change in an organism's anatomy and behavior was the result of an adaptation that led the organism to have a selective advantage, thereby increasing its chances of survival. Although heredity is usually the cause of species continuity in selected genes, there are also mutations that occur during sexual reproduction that can confer a species advantage in a particular environment. If the specific mutation allowed a selective advantage, their offspring would inherit the specific mutated gene and, therefore, improve their ability to survive and reproduce. Darwin argued that over time the process of natural selection would allow new species to arise and others to be eliminated.[3] Inspired by the work of Thomas Malthus, Darwin concluded that through this process, organisms were constantly competing for resources and that those with the slightest advantage would most likely win "the struggle for survival." Thomas Malthus was a British philosopher from the early 19th century. In his book, An Essay on the Principles of Populations, Malthus proposed that organisms will produce many more offspring than the environment can support. The lack of resources for an organism's survival in an environment meant that there would be a constant struggle for survival between members of a population for resources such as food. Malthus wrote: "In nature, plants and animals produce many more offspring than they can survive, and man is equally capable ofoverproduce if nothing is done.” As with animals, Malthus concluded that if the human population was not properly regulated, people would live in misery due to a famine that would spread an epidemic and eventually kill the human race. Darwin applied Malthus's theory to deduce that the best-adapted organisms in a population are more likely to obtain resources to survive and reproduce offspring to pass on these desirable traits to the next generation. On the other hand, individuals poorly adapted to their environment will not obtain resources to survive, therefore, they cannot survive and reproduce, and this would eventually lead to the elimination of these species.[4] Additionally, during the century that Darwin published his book on the theory of natural selection, many philosophers began to adopt their own theories about the evolution of the human race, based on the theory of natural selection of Darwin; what historians would call “the eclipse of Darwinism”.[5] Herbert Spencer was a popular English philosopher, known for his interpretation of Darwinism. Social Darwinism is the application of the theory of natural selection to the human population. However, Social Darwinism is not only about the physical meaning of human evolution, but also about the psychological characteristics that play a fundamental role in social interactions. Humans are cultural and social beings. Thus, when discussing the nature of humans, Social Darwinism relates to aspects of human sociology and psychology. Social Darwinism holds that religion, ethics, politics, culture, human behavior, and civilization can all be explained by the laws of natural selection. Additionally, Spencer asserts that society must emphasize skills, intellect, and technological innovations to drive human progress.[6] To be clear, Social Darwinism is not factual. It is simply an assumption or theory about human nature that influenced society's views in the 19th and 20th centuries. Spencer's work was extremely popular because it suited the American stage and reassured the progress of humanity. Social Darwinism met the demands of the times; a time when everything was defined by philosophical thought and science. In 1864, the Atlantic Monthly commented: "Mr. Herbert Spencer is already a power in the world... He has already influenced the silent lives of a few thoughtful men whose creed marks the point at which the civilization of our time must struggle to achieve its goal." raise. Mr. Spencer has already established principles which, although forced for a time to compromise with prejudices and special interests, will become the recognized basis of an improved society. »[7] Therefore, all philosophical thinkers of the time were influenced by Spencer's ideologies. Spencer believed that if mental and physical attributes could be inherited, then collectively the human race could become superior if individuals in the population inherited only the desired alleles. Therefore, the analogy of the phrase "struggle for survival" with human nature became the justification for vice in the Golden Age.[8]Then, Social Darwinism dangerously rebuked creationism and existence of God, causing extreme controversy with creationists. The biblical accounts of creation in the book of Genesis provided the only basis for understanding human creation before Darwin composed his theory.[9] The Genesis story explains that God created the earth in six days and rested on the seventh day. Concerning humans, the history ofCreation in Genesis states that God created all humans equal and unique in His own image and likeness. Christians of the time interpreted the text as being divinely written by God. Thus, all the stories in the Bible were considered true. Christians who interpret the Bible literally argue that Darwinism goes against the concept that God created the earth. Darwinism established a new approach to explaining the laws of nature, exploiting the concept of creation.[10] For the theory of natural selection to come true, God must be superfluous in the process. Darwin supported his analogy by asserting that creationism is false. Instead, Darwin suggested that all life forms are not fixed, but are constantly evolving to best adapt to their environment. The theory of natural selection states that “evolutionary change results from the abundant production of genetic variation in each generation. The relatively few individuals that survive, due to a well-developed combination of hereditary characteristics, which give rise to the next generation. »[11] Thus, according to Darwinists, the notion of a divine creator is a myth. Darwinism became very problematic, as many controversies arose between the two distinct ideas. To support his thinking, Darwin wrote: "When two races of men meet, they act exactly like two kinds of animals: they fight, eat each other, bring diseases to each other, etc., but then comes the the deadliest struggle, namely the one who has the organizations or instincts best suited to win the situation. »[12] Darwin states that humans are similar to animals in the way humans act toward each other when it comes to life and death situations. By removing God from human life, Darwin reduced humanity to the level of an animal. Humanity was suddenly defined by the laws of nature. Laws and teachings of the Bible such as the Ten Commandments were ignored. Alternatively, competition and “survival of the fittest” for organisms whose genetic mutations resulted in the most successful adaptations became what defined differences in human life. Even in the case of human social structures, in which one might think that this happened as a result of a plan intended by God, all of this was unreasonably justified by the principles of Darwinism. For example, during the Enlightenment, intelligent thinkers theorized that an upper class group was more superior because they had developed more through their descent, while those considered to be of an upper class lower had not yet developed their lineage. In contrast, creationists would argue that the poor existed to pressure people to do good and help the less fortunate, in accordance with God's will. Social Darwinism encourages society to go against human virtues and man's innate moral values. Darwin wrote: The help which we feel impelled to give to the helpless is chiefly an accidental result of the instinct of sympathy, which was originally acquired as a part of the social instincts, but afterwards rendered, in the manner previously indicated, softer and more tender. widely distributed… The surgeon can harden himself by performing an operation, because he knows that he is acting for the good of his patient; but if we intentionally neglected the weak and powerless, it could only be for contingent benefit, with overwhelming present harm. We must therefore bear the undoubtedly harmful effects of the survival ofweak and the spread of their species... even if this is more to be hoped for than expected. it was for the long-term benefit of humans. Due to the absence of God in everyday morality as a replacement for Social Darwinism, several catastrophic events have occurred throughout history. Due to the widespread popularity of Social Darwinism in the early 20th century, a national eugenics movement arose in an attempt to eliminate Social Darwinism. “defective” types in society in order to advance the human race. The cause of these movements had a direct link to Social Darwinism. In 1883, inspired by Social Darwinism, Francis Galton proposed the science of eugenics. Eugenics is the scientific study of the possibility of improving the standards of the human species by discouraging the reproduction of individuals classified as having undesirable characteristics - negative eugenics - while also encouraging those with desirable characteristics to reproduce - positive eugenics. Galton understood eugenics as the rational planning of the human species, based on his understanding of the mechanisms of heredity. In 1904, Galton wrote that eugenics is "the study of agents under social control who can improve or alter the racial qualities of future generations, whether physically or mentally." » [14] A study carried out on the Juke family revealed a lot about social issues. behaviors caused by their inherited mental abilities. More than two thousand individuals related to the Jukes family lineage were "feeble-minded." Henri, psychologist. H Goddard stated that the Juke family did not become "feeble-minded" due to the impact of environmental conditions on their behavior, but rather an inheritance of this attribute. Thus, eugenicists assumed that low intelligence was hereditary and that collectively, the reproduction of these people would weaken the human race. A revised study implemented the laws of eugenics to eliminate the “feeble-minded” from the family line. The next generation of the Juke family showed normal behaviors. As a result, based on the study done on Juke's family, philosophical thinkers who supported eugenics believed that by applying eugenics to a larger, complex society, it would create a more advanced master race. The eugenicists' first task was to determine which ones should not reproduce. Galton proposed that to create an ideal society, laws must be put in place to manage the fertility rates of those who carry unwanted diseases or genes. In 1884, an experiment in Oneida, New York, attempted to create an ideal community by controlling reproduction rates. City leaders imposed reproduction rules. According to one of the women, “we are not allowed to have personal feelings about children…if necessary, we will become martyrs of science.” However, most women did not agree with eugenics, such as some women in Oneida, New York.[17] Advocates such as American psychologist Leta S. Hollingsworth have suggested providing compensation or incentives to promote marriage and reproduction for individuals considered desirable or suitable. For example, in the 1960s, Germany had serious debates over paying compensation and approving eugenic sterilizations. In early 1945, West Germany upheld the law. Young men and women must undergo a physical and mental examination. Before marriage, a health certificate must be presented to the registrar to ensure that the man and woman were in “good condition” before the marriage.[18] If they were healthy, the couple would bealso encouraged to have children. Most eugenics programs implemented initially targeted marriages. Their primary motivation was to advocate eugenics and force sterilization. In addition, hereditary forms of mental deficiencies also became one of the main targets. Some eugenicists also targeted criminals, prostitutes, and other socially unacceptable behaviors considered hereditary. For example, the American Neurological Association in the United States has promoted sexual sterilization for certain disabilities and mental illnesses such as epilepsy. In Germany, people suffering from cognitive illnesses such as mental debility, blindness, deafness or Huntington's disease, to name a few, were also sterilized. Through the promotion of eugenics in society, many highly educated men subscribed to the scientific process of eugenics. A popular German biologist said: “We must ensure that these inferior people do not procreate. »[19] Unlike other countries, eugenics in Germany became too extreme. In 1914, the Davenports Eugenics Record Office proposed sterilizing one-tenth of the population. According to the Eugenics Record Office, sterilization of the "worthless tenth" of the population would allow the next generation to have a population representative of the effects of eugenics.[20] Although no other country implemented eugenics as much as Germany, the United States Supreme Court upheld the eugenics model. Additionally, in the United States, eugenicists attempted to convince Americans to adopt eugenic practices. Popular books were sold explaining the importance of implementing the science of eugenics on the mentally ill, disabled, or undesirable. Additionally, eugenics in high school was taught to young adults. Teachers invited students to select “socially desirable partners,” with the goal of applying the laws of eugenics to society not directly but intentionally.[21] Although eugenics in the United States did not gain popularity as it did in Germany, it caused much controversy. Additionally, the practice of eugenics led to a new branch of science known as sterilization. Sterilization is the practice of preventing a mentally and physically “deficient” woman from passing on her hereditary characteristics to her offspring. The method involves surgical interventions or contraceptive medications.[22] Sterilization is imposed on mentally and physically ill people, such as those considered “feeble-minded.” In the 19th and 20th centuries, sterilization separated the socially undesirable and the socially unfit. For example, after World War II, Japan strongly encouraged sterilization in an effort to create an ideal society. In 1948, the Eugenics Protection Act legalized abortion in Japan. The law allowed a doctor to sterilize a person with their own consent and with the consent of their partner. Japan believed this would "prevent the birth of eugenically inferior offspring and protect maternal health and life." Japan allows the abortion of a child if one of the parents suffers from a mental illness, a psychopathic disorder, carries a deformed hereditary gene or a physical disability. The Japanese promoted these laws, and as a result, abortion and sterilization became widely used throughout the country. A statistic for 1951 alone shows that there have been one million abortions and twenty-three thousand sterilizations since the law came into force.[23] Britain is anotherexample of a country that has put sterilization into practice. In 1913, Britain drafted the Mental Deficiency Act. This law allowed the government to incarcerate anyone suffering from a mental illness. They also allowed doctors to sterilize women who did not meet their standards. In Britain, eugenics considered the “feeble-minded” to be a hereditary problem, the cause of many social problems such as poverty. In Britain, as the First World War broke out, depression and the dismissal of the least employable people became a concern. So, to prevent the mentally ill from further worsening the conditions of society during World War I, Social Darwinism introduced the concept of sterilization. The departmental committee in Great Britain reported that mental deficiency was hereditary and therefore recommended sterilization of the woman.[24] Social Darwinism influenced the practice of sterilization, causing the loss of millions of lives and the development of depression and anxiety in some affected individuals. A comparative study was conducted in two cities in Sichuan, China by the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. The study indicated that “surgical sterilization has long-term psychological effects. Depression was significantly higher among sterilized men and women. The risk of depression was 2.34 times higher after tubal ligation and 3.97 times higher after vasectomy. The risk of anxiety was 2.88 times higher after tubal ligation and 4.79 times higher after vasectomy. »[25] As a result of Social Darwinism, sterilization was put into practice in two major countries, thereby killing millions of lives and directly causing mental disorders. disorders such as anxiety and depression in people affected by sterilization laws and practices. Furthermore, as we have seen previously, Social Darwinism in Germany was extremely popular. In the mid-1900s, Social Darwinism inspired the extermination of those "unfit for German society" through selective breeding using eugenics.[26] There is no doubt that Social Darwinism has indeed increased racial consciousness to a greater degree. As a result, Social Darwinism inspired Nazi racial propaganda. According to the work of German biologists in the early 1900s, it appears from their writings that Spencer's theory of Social Darwinism did indeed have a major influence on the motivations of the Nazis. They also stated that when Adolf Hitler's government formulated its racial policies, it strongly reflected the ideas of Social Darwinism. Hitler's ideology was based on Darwin's theory of natural selection; take the context literally and apply it to the human population.[27] According to Richard Weikart, author of From Darwin to Hitler: Evolutionary Ethics, Eugenics, and Racism in Germany, he states: "Darwinism itself did not produce the Holocaust, but without Darwinism...neither Hitler nor his Nazi supporters would not have had the scientific basis to convince themselves and their collaborators that one of the world's greatest atrocities was truly morally praiseworthy. As Weikart mentions, the most prevalent factor that caused the Holocaust during World War II was Spencer's notion of "survival of the fittest." Joseph Tenenbaum, the author of the book Race and Reich, noted that political philosophy in Germany was based on the philosophical theories of the time. He declares: “the struggle, the selection and the survival of the fittest, all the notions andobservations arrived at… by Darwin… but already in luxuriant buds in 19th century German social philosophy. ...Thus developed the doctrine of Germany's inherent right to rule the world on the basis of superior force...[of a] "hammer and anvil" relationship between the Reich and the weaker nations. » [28] Therefore, because Social Darwinism was consistent with Hitler's ideology, Social Darwinism was often considered a scientific standard. The eugenics program in Germany was specifically aimed at purifying populations of the “lower race” and the mentally and physically deficient. Additionally, Social Darwinism taught unethical virtues within the school system. To launch Nazi racial propaganda, Hitler moved away from Christian doctrines in schools and replaced them with the concept of Social Darwinism. As part of the program, students learned about the benefits of racial cleansing and eugenics. Hitler himself declared that “no boy or girl should leave school without a complete knowledge of the necessity and meaning of purity of blood.” »[29] This was one of the main reasons why Nazism reached a national level. Germans learned to accept the words of Hitler, who ruled by modifying the theory of natural selection, with the idea of ​​socially creating the most superior German race. Hitler states that “we [the Nazis] must understand and cooperate with science. »[30] Unlike modern times, the idea that all are equal did not exist because of the great eugenics movement inspired by Social Darwinism. Additionally, Social Darwinism in Germany ensured that if all inferiors were eliminated from the human population, the result would be a race ruled solely by superior characteristics. Hitler believed that humans were animals, similar to the animals Darwin observed, and that to develop the human race, the Aryans had to control the nature of evolution. Using selective breeding techniques, the Nazis developed and implemented laws intended to oppress the inferior race. The Nazis believed that Social Darwinism was pure fact and that they were simply applying proven science to the human race. Historian R. Hickman states that Hitler “…was a strong supporter and preacher of evolution. Whatever the deeper and deeper complexities of his psychosis, it is certain that [the concept of struggle was important because]…his book, Mein Kampf, clearly outlined a number of evolutionary ideas, particularly those emphasizing the emphasis on struggle, the survival of the strongest and the extermination of the weak to produce a better society. »[31] Due to Social Darwinian ideology, the Nazis practiced the laws of eugenics to an extreme level. Nazi policy inflicted severe hatred specifically towards Jews, but was not limited to other races such as Slovaks, Gypsies, the disabled, the feeble-minded and others who were not easily distinguished.de the pure “Aryan” race. Hitler's vision was to exterminate all non-Germans in the country in order to prevent the "pollution" of the master race.[32] Starting with the Jews during World War II, Hitler imposed the Blood Protection Act, or more commonly known as the Nuremberg Laws, on September 15, 1935. These laws separated all Jews from German life and removed all basic human rights. For example, the Nazis believed that those who were excluded could reproduce and pass on their unwanted characteristics, thereby infecting the Aryans' genes. For this reason, one of the laws ofNuremberg stipulated that marriage or sexual relations with persons of "German or related blood" should be prohibited. Shortly after the laws took effect, Hitler demanded that all Jews in concentration camps be murdered privately. 33] According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, as many as six million Jews, two hundred thousand disabled people, and seventy thousand repeat criminals were brutally murdered due to Hitler's irrational logic established by Darwinism.[34] that Social Darwinism was true and that he believed he was the "savior" of the human race because he could elevate humanity to a supreme level. His attempt to massacre the entire Jewish population will forever be known as one of the greatest heinous crimes ever seen. Spencer's humanity and philosophy are the ancestors of this atrocious event in history. Although racism predates Social Darwinism, many philosophers have used evolutionary theory to support the role of competition and racial superiority. Racial struggle was central to Spencer's interpretations of sociological change in society. Social Darwinism was used as a defense against the oppression of weaker races. Although Darwinism was not the origin of aggressive ideology and racism, it became a new tool to explain the struggle of certain races. Max Nordau in the North American Review of 1889 declared: "Since the theory of evolution was promulgated, they can cover their natural barbarity with the name of Darwin and proclaim the bloodthirsty instincts of their deepest hearts as the last words of science. » ] Upper-class Europeans and Americans used Social Darwinism to justify class difference and their oppression of the poor. To go further, social Darwinists have used scientific explanations to explain the obvious differences between the rich and the poor. Some social Darwinists suggest that competition between races is crucial to human evolution. A man named Ernst Haeckel highlighted the peril and racial competition. He hated the fact that organizations such as charities existed to facilitate the struggle, as this would "sow the seeds of future racial decadence" and prevent the elimination of the unfit. For example, in 1927, United States Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said: "It would be better for the whole world if, instead of waiting to execute degenerate children or let them die of hungry because of their imbecility, society can prevent those who are clearly unfit from perpetuating their species... Three generations of imbeciles are enough. "[36] According to this quote, Holmes stated in court that it was appropriate to prevent the birth of a certain race instead of having to execute them later in life. Social Darwinism assumes that this is always the inferior in a society that threatens the quality of the country's entire race by continuing to reproduce and produce offspring.[37] Social Darwinians viewed competition between nations as a decisive factor in the evolution of society. human race In other words, these men believed in the idea of ​​"racial superiority" or the creation of a race that would be the ultimate race. Following the ideas of Haeckel, a man named Gustave Le Bon who. studies racial psychology, argued that reproduction between superior races was beneficial to society while reproduction between superior race and inferior race would cause complete disaster and annihilation, if continued into future generations. work Man and Societies, Le Bon mentions that “these arealways the inferior specimens of society who breed prolifically and threaten the quality of the breed.” Thus, Le Bon strongly disagreed with racial and social equality. Similarly, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck saw the different human races at different biological stages of their hierarchy. His theory was that those who belonged to a lower hierarchical race were underdeveloped and that as these individuals matured, they would repeat the evolutionary process until they formed a civilized race. Furthermore, Spencer and Haeckel both viewed humanity in evolving racial hierarchies and asserted that "the Germanic race in Northwestern Europe and North America" ​​was at the top while "the black race is still at the top." "to childhood", which means that it is still developing.[38] Thus, Social Darwinism was used as an explanation to argue that racial differences were the cause of natural selection and evolution. Additionally, in Spencer's book, Social Statistics, he stated that civilized men oversee the elimination of the mentally ill by constructing institutional buildings. the sick and establish laws for the poor. Thus, the weak continue to survive and reproduce, making it pernicious for the human race. A contradictory idea that was popular in England is Malthusianism. Malthusianism contradicts the idea of ​​equality and helping the poor and provides a reason for the oppression of the rich over the poor. Thanks to this idea, the rich were often relieved of responsibility towards the poor. The theory was used as a "guilt-free pass", because the rich believed it was not their duty to look out for the poor.[39] Darwinism therefore taught individuals of the upper classes not to interfere with the natural evolution of humanity. Less fortunate groups in society were left to starve because they were believed to be of a lower taxonomic status. It was therefore necessary to leave them alone to develop into a race of higher status. This belief continued to spread and the mortality rate among the poor increased. In contrast, modern scientists have yet to discover a gene that proves one major race is more advanced or intelligent than the other. Intelligence has a genetic basis, but no intelligence-enhancing genetic variations have been found to date. According to the American Anthropological Association, “race is not real as we understand it: it is deep, primordial, and biological. Rather, it is a fundamental idea with devastating consequences because we, throughout history and culture, have made it that way. »[40] In the quote it is explained that race cannot be explained by science. The fundamental principles of the race are above all a human invention and not just a biological one. Unfortunately, the theory of natural selection and the concept of “survival of the fittest” have arrived at a dangerous time. Social Darwinism resulted in poorly developed perceptions of race, ethnicity, and class. Darwinism emerged at a time when people were questioning and seeking scientific explanations for life's outcomes and conditions. As a result, people have misinterpreted Social Darwinism as social progress between different ethnicities, statuses, and races. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The many interpretations of Social Darwinism have been dangerously driven. Philosophical thinkers have reached many fallacious conclusions. Following Darwinism