The phenomenon of Social Darwinism is by no means easy to explain or to define. Its name suggests that Social Darwinism has something to do with Darwinism, meaning the evolutionary theories of Darwin. In the course of this paper, it shall be outlined how Social Darwinism could be defined, what link there is or could be to Darwin and his theories and the role Herbert Spencer plays in coining the term Social Darwinism. Furthermore, it is aimed at discussing the impacts of Social Darwinism on the contemporary society of the 19th century, in particular the English Imperialism and also racism in general, as well in England as in America. Apart from that, the attention will be drawn to the influences of Social Darwinism on English and American literature of the time. Finally, a conclusion will be given to sum up the most important outcomes of this paper.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Trying to define Social Darwinism
2.1 What is Social Darwinism?
2.2 Connection between Darwin and Social Darwinism
2.3 Herbert Spencer’s role in coining Social Darwinism
3. Impacts of Social Darwinism on the society of the 19th century
3.1 British Imperialism
3.2 Racism
3.2.1 General legitimations of racist ideologies
3.2.2 Manifestation of racism in British thought
3.2.3 Implementation of racism in American society
4. Influences of Social Darwinism on the literature of the time
4.1 Impacts on English literature
4.2 Thoughts of American writers
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This work aims to critically analyze the phenomenon of Social Darwinism, exploring its definition, its often-misrepresented connection to Charles Darwin’s biological theories, and the role of Herbert Spencer. A central research goal is to demonstrate how Social Darwinist ideology was instrumentalized in the 19th century to justify imperialist policies and racist social structures in both Britain and America, as well as its influence on contemporary literature.
- Theoretical definitions of Social Darwinism and its origin.
- The distinction between Darwinian biology and the sociopolitical application of "Social Darwinism."
- The justification of 19th-century British Imperialism through evolutionary rhetoric.
- Racist ideologies and their manifestation in British and American social and literary thought.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2.2 Manifestation of racism in British thought
When Darwinism appeared in the 1860s, numerous discussions about race and class were already circulating. Furthermore it is important to bear in mind, that the scientific approach to race theory preceded Darwin since Gobineau built a basis for racist ideologies with his “Essai sur l’Inégalité des Races Humaines” (1853-55), an essay which portrayed the superiority of the Aryans, without Gobineau being able to make use of the concept of natural selection. Gobineau’s ideas were later used as legitimation of race ideology by the national socialists in Germany in the Third Reich. So, it cannot be argued that racism has its roots in Darwin’s biological ideas of races because racist concepts had already existed before Darwin. Rather were racist concepts embedded in the theories of Social Darwinism later on.
Indeed, Social Darwinism was very suitable for postulating the destiny of the British race, namely the superiority of the whites, which mostly implied the superiority of the middle and upper classes as well. In his work “The Economics of Industry” (1879), Alfred Marshall tried to outline the future of the English race and classes: “There can be no doubt that this extension of the English race has been a benefit to the world. A check to the growth of the population would do great harm if it affected only the more intelligent races and particularly the more intelligent classes of these races. There does indeed appear some danger of this evil. For instance, if the lower classes of Englishmen multiply more rapidly than those which are morally and physically superior, not only will the populaion of England deteriorate, but also that part of the population of America and Australia which descends from Englishmen will be less intelligent than it otherwise would be. Again if Englishmen multiply less rapidly than the Chinese, this spiritless race will overrun portions of the earth that otherwise would have been peopled by English vigour.”
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the complexity of defining Social Darwinism and sets the stage for exploring its links to Darwinism, Spencer, and its pervasive influence on 19th-century imperialist and racist thought.
2. Trying to define Social Darwinism: This chapter analyzes various historical approaches to the term, differentiating between Darwin's biological science and the social ideologies labeled as Social Darwinism, while also highlighting the distinct influence of Herbert Spencer.
3. Impacts of Social Darwinism on the society of the 19th century: This section investigates how Social Darwinist terminology was used to legitimize British Imperialism and racist ideologies in the UK and America, often by misapplying natural selection to human social hierarchy.
4. Influences of Social Darwinism on the literature of the time: The chapter explores how imperialistic and Social Darwinist themes permeated the works of British and American authors, shaping narratives that glorified war and racial superiority.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes that Social Darwinism was a one-sided, often politically motivated misuse of biological theories that resulted in profound negative impacts on 19th-century society.
6. Bibliography: This section provides a comprehensive list of the academic sources and primary literature cited throughout the paper.
Keywords
Social Darwinism, Charles Darwin, Herbert Spencer, 19th Century, British Imperialism, Racism, Natural Selection, Survival of the Fittest, Social Hierarchy, Anglo-Saxonism, Evolutionary Theory, Literature, Eugenics, Class Struggle, Race Theory
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
The work examines the development, definition, and sociopolitical consequences of Social Darwinism during the 19th century, focusing on how it was used to justify imperialism and racism.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The key themes include the misinterpretation of Darwinian biology, the role of Herbert Spencer in coining social evolutionary concepts, the justification of colonial expansion, and the reflection of these ideas in literature.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to clarify that while Social Darwinism claims a basis in Darwin's biology, it was largely an instrumentalized ideology used to support specific social and political agendas of the era.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author employs a historical-analytical methodology, examining historical texts, political treatises, and literary works to show how evolutionary theories were imported into the social sphere.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body details the evolution of the term, its application to British imperial policy, the institutionalization of racist ideologies in the UK and America, and its thematic presence in the works of writers like Kipling, London, and Dreiser.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Social Darwinism, British Imperialism, Racism, Natural Selection, and Evolution.
How did Social Darwinism influence literary production?
The work illustrates that authors used Social Darwinist premises to portray war as a natural, beneficial mechanism for "sifting" nations and to justify the perceived superiority of the Anglo-Saxon race.
What role did Herbert Spencer play compared to Darwin?
The paper argues that Spencer established his social theories independently of Darwin, and that many ideological aspects attributed to "Social Darwinism" are actually derived from Spencer's independent social philosophy.
How was Social Darwinism implemented in American society?
In America, Social Darwinism was tied to the concept of Anglo-Saxonism and used to justify the displacement of Native Americans, the treatment of immigrants, and the expansionist ambitions of the nation.
Does the author blame Darwin for these negative consequences?
The author concludes that while Darwin's work provided the terminology, he cannot be held solely responsible for the misuses of his ideas, as the imperialists and racists of the time actively selected and distorted these concepts to suit their own political ends.
- Quote paper
- Anne Aschenbrenner (Author), 2007, Social Darwinism and its Consequences for 19th Century Society, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/286654
