Social Darwinism is term given to the various theories and ideas that emerged in the United States and Europe in the 1870s. The biological theories focused on concepts, such as natural selection and evolution. These concepts would later come to influence economics. The economic interpretation of Social Darwinism pertained to politics, social structures, and economics of daily life. Social Darwinism affected the economic “giants” on a global scale. However, these philosophies impacted the common people and lower class significantly. This is encouraged the commonwealth to better themselves economically, socially, as well as politically. Significance of Social Darwinism came to greatly impact supporters of Charles Darwin’s theories. Attention
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Social Darwinists were a group of people who were strong and active in politics, contributing to politics in numerous ways. Social Darwinist’s main goal was to encourage the idea that the strong would prosper economically, seeing wealth and power increase as the weak would see their own wealth decreasing. A few Social Darwinists even believed in punishment for the weak and for their lack of political power. A main philosophy of Social Darwinists was laissez-faire capitalism. Laissez-faire capitalism is a form of economy where all private transactions are free of governmental restrictions such as tariffs. This form of economy allowed for an extension on freedom of property rights. In English, the French term laissez-faire translates to “let them be” or “allow to do.” Implying for the government to stay out of social and private economic interactions of the people. Derivative governments and ethical practices of “radical” Social Darwinists include eugenics, imperialism, fascism, racism, and even Nazism. Charles Darwin never intended for his theories to become an ethical guideline, rather, a set of biological discoveries (Danzer …show more content…
Leading to governmental theories to economic discoveries, Social Darwinism is viewed as playing a key role in national and biological success. Negatives of Social Darwinism can be easily presumed as well. Styles of government and certain types of ethics were birthed by Social Darwinism, such as Nazism, Fascism, and eugenics. The question is if Darwin intended for these styles of social status to occur? His goal wasn’t to affect economics and governments, but rather to make biological discoveries. His biological discoveries are a breakthrough in science that helps us to explain the origins of our species, and origins of other species. We should greatly appreciate his scientific achievements
Social Darwinists were a group of people who were strong and active in politics, contributing to politics in numerous ways. Social Darwinist’s main goal was to encourage the idea that the strong would prosper economically, seeing wealth and power increase as the weak would see their own wealth decreasing. A few Social Darwinists even believed in punishment for the weak and for their lack of political power. A main philosophy of Social Darwinists was laissez-faire capitalism. Laissez-faire capitalism is a form of economy where all private transactions are free of governmental restrictions such as tariffs. This form of economy allowed for an extension on freedom of property rights. In English, the French term laissez-faire translates to “let them be” or “allow to do.” Implying for the government to stay out of social and private economic interactions of the people. Derivative governments and ethical practices of “radical” Social Darwinists include eugenics, imperialism, fascism, racism, and even Nazism. Charles Darwin never intended for his theories to become an ethical guideline, rather, a set of biological discoveries (Danzer …show more content…
Leading to governmental theories to economic discoveries, Social Darwinism is viewed as playing a key role in national and biological success. Negatives of Social Darwinism can be easily presumed as well. Styles of government and certain types of ethics were birthed by Social Darwinism, such as Nazism, Fascism, and eugenics. The question is if Darwin intended for these styles of social status to occur? His goal wasn’t to affect economics and governments, but rather to make biological discoveries. His biological discoveries are a breakthrough in science that helps us to explain the origins of our species, and origins of other species. We should greatly appreciate his scientific achievements