Question

Explain why “social Darwinism” seemed like a logical extension of Darwin’s argument and supported the racist notions to which all humans are subject to.

Answer 1

Answer.

The term Social Darwinism is used to refer to various theories that emerged in the second half of the 19th century that tend to combine Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection and Herbert Spencer's sociological theories to justify imperialism, racism as natural and essential phenomenon in human societies. Social Darwinists used Darwin’s idea of survival of the fittest based on the principle of natural selection to justify the status quo and reinforce a sense of racial superiority over the Third World or non-White societies. Thus, Darwin’s biological theory of evolution was reappropriated by them in claiming that the individuals or groups of individuals at the top of social, economic, or political hierarchies had survived as the ‘fittest’ civilisation and competed against other relatively weaker societies and had proven themselves best adapted.

By This logic, any social or political change towards racial equality was argued to weaken the existing hierarchy and disrupt the natural order.