How Social Darwinism Impacted Society
Social Darwinism justified many decisions during the latter 19th and early 20th century. Particularly it was used to further laissez-faire capitalism, immigration control, eugenics, colonialism and, in an extreme case Nazism. Thus, Darwin 's theory of evolution had a profound effect on the late 19th and early 20th century through its application to human society, Social Darwinism.
Before the theory of Darwinism religion was utilized to explain the workings of the World. The prevailing belief at the time was Christianity and it dictated what people believed about creation. Due to their religious believes they thought that humans and animals were created by God and that the animal instincts that human’s had …show more content…
Darwin 's theory introduced the idea that humans had evolved from lower life forms, not created by God, and that through adaptation gained useful characteristics. His new ideas effected how we conceptualized the entire universe and effected various fields such as philosophy, theology, science, and morality. However, although Darwin’s new ideas expanded our understanding of the world it also further cemented a belief in the inevitably of progress which was prevalent during the Victorian Age, Darwinism reinforced this belief and caused feelings of pessimism in the less successful. Through Darwin 's theory people believed that those who were successful were successful because they were the most evolved humans. Even if those who were successful were not necessarily the best or most just which contradicted traditional religious beliefs. With Darwin 's theory it meant that no one controlled the destiny of humankind and that only the strongest, through any means, would be the most …show more content…
Social Darwinism was prevalent in the late 19th century and 20th century and was used by laissez-faire capitalists to keep the government out of the economy. Laissez-faire means "leave alone" in French which is why laissez-faire capitalism’s main goal was to. Supporters of laissez-faire capitalism arguments were comparing business to biology using the theory of survival of the fittest to justify the social and economic differences between the poor and the rich. The laissez-faire capitalists benefitted from the government staying out of the economy and people such as Charles Francis Adams Jr. rejected policies such as congressional tariffs arguing that they were deterring the natural order of survival of the fittest. Laissez-faire capitalists used Social Darwinism to argue against things such as congressional tariffs since the theory fit their ideals and intentions. Social Darwinism as a theory was very attractive to many people who believed in controversial issues at the time including Colonialism. Colonists argued that through the principle of “survival of the fittest” the colonists were justified in their efforts of colonizing to create colonies. In the most extreme case, Social Darwinism was used to justify Nazism using Darwin’s principle of natural selection stating that the Germans were the chosen people. We can see that Social Darwinism effected the world
Social Darwinism justified many decisions during the latter 19th and early 20th century. Particularly it was used to further laissez-faire capitalism, immigration control, eugenics, colonialism and, in an extreme case Nazism. Thus, Darwin 's theory of evolution had a profound effect on the late 19th and early 20th century through its application to human society, Social Darwinism.
Before the theory of Darwinism religion was utilized to explain the workings of the World. The prevailing belief at the time was Christianity and it dictated what people believed about creation. Due to their religious believes they thought that humans and animals were created by God and that the animal instincts that human’s had …show more content…
Darwin 's theory introduced the idea that humans had evolved from lower life forms, not created by God, and that through adaptation gained useful characteristics. His new ideas effected how we conceptualized the entire universe and effected various fields such as philosophy, theology, science, and morality. However, although Darwin’s new ideas expanded our understanding of the world it also further cemented a belief in the inevitably of progress which was prevalent during the Victorian Age, Darwinism reinforced this belief and caused feelings of pessimism in the less successful. Through Darwin 's theory people believed that those who were successful were successful because they were the most evolved humans. Even if those who were successful were not necessarily the best or most just which contradicted traditional religious beliefs. With Darwin 's theory it meant that no one controlled the destiny of humankind and that only the strongest, through any means, would be the most …show more content…
Social Darwinism was prevalent in the late 19th century and 20th century and was used by laissez-faire capitalists to keep the government out of the economy. Laissez-faire means "leave alone" in French which is why laissez-faire capitalism’s main goal was to. Supporters of laissez-faire capitalism arguments were comparing business to biology using the theory of survival of the fittest to justify the social and economic differences between the poor and the rich. The laissez-faire capitalists benefitted from the government staying out of the economy and people such as Charles Francis Adams Jr. rejected policies such as congressional tariffs arguing that they were deterring the natural order of survival of the fittest. Laissez-faire capitalists used Social Darwinism to argue against things such as congressional tariffs since the theory fit their ideals and intentions. Social Darwinism as a theory was very attractive to many people who believed in controversial issues at the time including Colonialism. Colonists argued that through the principle of “survival of the fittest” the colonists were justified in their efforts of colonizing to create colonies. In the most extreme case, Social Darwinism was used to justify Nazism using Darwin’s principle of natural selection stating that the Germans were the chosen people. We can see that Social Darwinism effected the world