Social  Darwinism  

STD  11.2.7    Objec7ve:  assess  the  importance  of  social  darwinism  in  the  process  of  

industrializa7on  

APK  

•  Charles  Darwin    •  Ver7cal  Integra7on  •  Horizontal  Integra7on  •  Laissez  Faire  

Importance  •  How  was  Social  Darwinism  applied  to  business?  – A.  Man  is  born  with  quali7es  that  determine  financial  success.  

– B.  Man  is  inherently  evil.  – C.  All  men  are  created  equal.  – D.  Mankind  is  a  product  of  his  environment.  

Social  Darwinism  •  Herbert  Spencer  –  adapted  Darwin’s  

Origin    of  the  Species    •  Based  on  the  scien7fic  studies  of  

Charles  Darwin-­‐  Natural  Selec7on    –  Traits  become  more  or  less  common  in  a  

popula7on  

•  Ideas  are  applied  to  society  and  business  

•  Later  will  be  applied  to  race  -­‐  Classical  Racism  

•  Used  to  defend  the  power  of  new  corporate  elites.  

•  Only  the  fiXest  survived  

“There  is  not  a  poor  person  in  the  United  States  who  was  not  made  poor  by  his  own  shortcomings.”  

CFU: What is Social Darwinism? Pair Share? Is it fair to tie Darwin to people?

Social  Darwinism  •  Charles  Darwin  –  survival  of  the  fiXest  

– Social  Darwin  theory  evolved  – Society  should  do  as  liXle  as  possible  to  interfere  with  peoples  pursuit  of  success  

                   AS  A  RESULT  

Government  did  not  TAX  or  REGULATE  businesses!!!  CFU: Why is Charles Darwin important? Pair Share: Is it possible to place Darwin’s theory to people? What would be the outcome?

Charles  Darwin  

Herbert  Spencer  

Lester  Ward    An7-­‐Darwinist  1880’s  •  “Evolu7on  does  not  apply  

to  human  society”  •  Humans  naturally  use  

reason  and  can  change/adapt  to  the  environment  

•  Progress  occurs  through  inven7on  and  planning  

•  Laissez-­‐fair,  not  natural  •  Government  should  serve  

the  people  =  intervene  in  society  

•  Educa7on  will  improve  society  

•  “If  nature  progresses  through  destruc7on  of  the  weak-­‐  man  progresses  through  protec7on  of  the  weak.”  

•  Evolu7on  through  human  intelligence  will  help  economic  and  social  problems  

•  “Ac7ve  Government  &  posi7ve  planning=Good  for  Society  

CFU: Is Lester Ward for or against Social Darwinism? Pair Share: How do you believe he would attempt to solve business problems?

Sumner  and  Social  Darwinism  •  William  Graham  Sumner,  Yale  professor  supported  Social  

Darwinism  •  Said  “Millionaires  are  the  product  of  Natural  Selec6on”  •  Pro-­‐Business  View  of  society  

–  Used  to  defend  the  power  of  new  corporate  elites.  –  Only  the  fiXest  survived    

•  Pro  Capitalism/Laissez  Fair  

•  An7-­‐Socialism  •  An7-­‐Government  Interference  in  Economy  

•  An7-­‐Reform  •  Aide  to  the  poor  hinders  natural  process  of  progress  

CFU: Is Sumner for or against Social Darwinism? Pair Share: How do you believe he would attempt to solve business problems?

Sumner  &  Social  Darwinism  

•  Individuals  must  have  absolute  freedom  to  struggle,  succeed  or  fail.  

•  Therefore,  state  interven7on  to  reward  society  and  the  economy  is  fu7le!  

Rockefeller  

•  “The  growth  of  large  business  is  merely  the  survival  of  the  fiXest.  This  is  not  an  evil  tendency  in  business.    It  is  merely  the  working  out  of  the  law  of  nature  and  a  law  of  god.”  

Henry  George  Explained  why  poverty  existed.  

•  “This  associa7on  of  poverty  with  progress  is  the  great  enigma  of  our  7mes.    So  long  as  all  the  increased  wealth  which  modern  progress  brings  goes  but  to  build  up  great  fortunes,  to  increase  luxury  and  make  sharper  the  contrast  between  the  house  of  have  &  the  house  of  want…  Progress  is  not  real  and  cannot  be  permanent.”    

•  From  Poverty  and  Progress  

Results  

•  Extension  of  Laissez-­‐faire  •  Discourage  hand  outs  to  poor  

– Provide  for  all  people  – Gospel  of  Wealth  

Social  Darwinism  Suppor7ng  Causes  •  Coloniza7on  

– Na7ves  were  weaker  &  unfit  to  survive  – Took  lands  and  felt  jus7fied  

•  Military  – Causali7es  were  wriXen  off  by  the  individuals  unfit  status  

•  Eugenics  – Sterializa7on  of  people    – Nazi  Party  in  Germany  

Pair Share: Do you believe Social Darwinism is a racist belief?

Problems  

•  Nature  =  morally  correct???  –  If  it  takes  place  in  nature  humans  should  follow  

•  IS  vs  OUGHT  – You  stubbed  your  toe  this  morning  does  not  logically  imply  that  you  ought  to  have  stubbed  your  toe!  

•  Darwinism  =  scien7fic  theory  

•  Social  Darwinism  =  ethicial  theory  

Pair Share: Is there anything that can tie Social Darwinism to nature?

Importance  

•  How  was  Social  Darwinism  applied  to  business?  – A.  Man  is  born  with  quali7es  that  determine  financial  success.  

– B.  Man  is  inherently  evil.  – C.  All  men  are  created  equal.  – D.  Mankind  is  a  product  of  his  environment.  

Closure  

•  Which  of  the  following  did  Social  Darwinism  discourage?  – A.  Hard  work  – B.  Industrializa7on  – C.  Government  regula7on  – D.  The  accumula7on  of  wealth  

Closure  •  What  statement  might  likely  be  made  by  an  opponent  of  Social  Darwinism?  

•  A.  The  wealthiest  people  have  worked  the  hardest.  

•  B.  The  poor  have  created  their  own  economic  problems.  

•  C.  Businesses  succeed  or  fail  because  of  natural  laws.  

•  D.  Species  adapt  differently  than  society  or  business.  

Closure  •  Social  Darwinism  explained  the  success  of  industrial  tycoons  by  saying  that  these  business  owners      

•  A.  had  succeeded  by  way  of  government  regula7on.  

•  B.  had  been  born  into  wealthy  or  privileged  families.  

•  C.  had  overcome  and  eliminated  weaker  compe7tors.  

•  D.  supported  labor  reform  and  other  Progressive  goals.