Enrico Ferri: The Anarchist Defense Of Darwinian Socialism

During his universalist defence of a scientific perspective on Socialism at the end of the nineteenth-century, the pioneering Italian sociologist Enrico Ferri stated that "it is impossible not to see the direct casual connection between Marxian socialism and scientific evolution"1. Ferri 's bold proclamation was indicative of an apex of radical thought. Similar tracts that blended political and scientific opinion by X, Y, and Z, published between 1860 and 1900, made much the same point. These authors held that evidence could be found in Darwinian theory (and thus nature) that the “law” of social co-operation and altruism superseding random competition and exploitation had been interwoven into humanity.

Whilst the exact transferability of …show more content…
Socialist and Marxist arguments wielding evolutionary theory contended that scarcity (and thus the suffering of the lower orders) was not universal or natural, elitism and exclusivity counterproductive, and that competition was not fixed, healthy, eternal, or inevitable8. Notably, Fredrick Engels mentioned an “evolutionary”, ever-advancing vision of Darwin 's biological world in 1883 upon Marx 's death as providing a dual sense of hope for progressively better versions of humanity9. Most explicitly, the Anarchist author Kropotkin argued that “mutual aid” was, demonstrable through Darwinian biology, the best “natural” outcome for any species10. In challenging Victorian conceptions on gender, race, and class, a levelling attitude also set in amongst some of those with a socially liberal take on Darwin. William Morris, in particular, argued that , while Ferri reiterated the need . Darwin 's work by itself could also prove an inspirational imperative for social change. Indeed, extraordinary Victorian social reformers such as Charles Booth were compelled to radically reappraise their views of society by Origins, due to their interpretations of its cosmological …show more content…
In terms of focus, British political thought and the relatively local scientific sphere will be examined first and foremost. Due to the internationalist nature of the movement, some reference may be made to other movements and writers in the same vein. Comparisons will also be drawn with more conservative or laissez-faire viewpoints, in order to establish impact in a similar sense. Conclusions will then be made on the uses that the wider progressive European movement made of Darwin 's work, the extent of their misinterpretations or deliberate spins. Comment will then be made on whether evolution altered socialist thought to any meaningful degree, as opposed to being a fleeting dialectical