Charles Darwin The Descent Of Man Analysis

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Register to read the introduction… First, natural selection depends on how well an organism can adapt …show more content…
For example, Britain was leading the way in colonization and many believed that the people of faraway places weren't as advanced as themselves. Also, missionaries were sent to convert the savages to Christianity since it was believed that their race could be "saved" from their ignorance of God and raised up to civilization.

The value of progress is also seen in Darwin's views of laissez-faire capitalism. In an earlier chapter of The Descent of Man, Darwin explains that capitalism is a natural progression and advancement of higher races. Capitalism "is far from an unmixed evil; for without the accumulation of capital the arts could not progress; and it is chiefly through their power that the civilized races have extended, and are now everywhere extending their range, so as to take the place of lower races" [x]. In the capitalist countries, wealth is passed down through the family and so some have advantages afforded to them. However, anyone could improve their conditions through economic means, but their children would also be subject to the struggle for existence
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The theory of social Darwinism puts forth the idea that certain races or groups of people are stronger and more advanced than others. Eventually the groups unable to develop and adapt would eventually die out. There are two main schools of social Darwinism, the individualistic and the collective. The individualistic school is mainly connected to the ideas of Herbert Spenser. He argues that humans shouldn't interfere with evolution, specifically that we shouldn't help those who have less than ourselves since they are unable to improve their condition and eventually those who are weak will die out. This stance advocates a laissez-faire attitude of government where there is no social support or aid. The second school of social Darwinism is the collective, which focuses on the evolution of a particular group. The belief is that particular races, classes and nations are more superior to others and over time the weaker groups will be eliminated. This theory is socially regressive and was rejected by most scientists. However, it was very popular, especially with conservative

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