Social Darwinism
By: Gilbert Ramirez
Define
Social Darwinism was the idea that the thought of natural selection applied also to someone's wealth and social class.
Detail
- Social Darwinism originated in Britain during the later part of the 19th century. The Idea of social Darwinism comes from the British naturalist Charles Darwin who had came up with the theory of natural selection. This idea then being interpreted by sociologist Herbert Spencer who came up with the term survival of the fittest. Herbert gained a lot of support in America one of his biggest followers being Andrew Carnegie.
- Interesting fact: One of the most prominent figures of Social Darwinism was William Graham Sumner who thought there was no alternative to the thought of survival of the fittest.
- The significance of social Darwinism is how it was so adhered and followed by important business men at the time. It kind of gave more motivation to live up to the success in which they thought they were entitled to. However today this idea is thought to be politically incorrect.