Social Darwinism
Definition
Social Darwinism is an ideology that applies Charles Darwin’s theories of natural selection and survival of the fittest to human society. It was often used during the 19th century to justify political conservatism, imperialism, and racism.
Analogy
Imagine if your school decided class rankings based on who could run the fastest mile. This would be like Social Darwinism, where society is structured based on who is deemed the "fittest" or most capable.
Related terms
Eugenics: The science of improving a human population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics.
Imperialism: A policy or ideology of extending a country's rule over foreign nations, often by military force or by gaining political and economic control.
Capitalism: An economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.
"Social Darwinism" appears in:
Subjects (2)
Study guides (2)
Practice Questions (18)
What was one negative consequence of the application of Darwin's ideas in the form of Social Darwinism?
Which poem exemplifies the concept of Social Darwinism, suggesting that the white race has a moral obligation to "civilize" and "Christianize" other nations?
Which of the following best characterizes the concept of "Social Darwinism" during the era of new imperialism?
In what way did Herbert Spencer’s concept 'Social Darwinism' utilize a Marxist perspective?
Which figure is associated with applying biological concepts of natural selection to sociology and politics under the term "Social Darwinism"?
What is a primary difference between Darwinism and Social Darwinism?
Who would most likely support the ideas of social darwinism in society?
How did Social Darwinism influence the European political landscape in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?
Which book did Herbert Spencer write that was key to the development of social Darwinism?
"Survival of the fittest," often associated with social darwinism, suggests what about society?
How did Francis Galton's works contribute to Social Darwinism in late-19th century Europe?
Who among these thinkers is typically associated with the development of Social Darwinism in the 19th century?
How did social Darwinism contribute to Europe's imperialistic ambitions during the late nineteenth century?
How did the concept of Social Darwinism persistently influence European imperialism?
In which year did Francis Galton initiate eugenics, an application of social darwinism?
Who is credited with developing the theory of evolution that influenced social Darwinism in Europe?
What was a common principle of Social Darwinism?
How did "survival of the fittest" concept of Social Darwinism affect the feminist movement in late 19th-century Europe?
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