Darwin's World

Darwin, Evolution and “Social Darwinism”


CHARLES DARWIN (1809-82)
1859: “The Origin of Species”
NATURAL SELECTION
1871: “The Descent of Man”

The Uses of Darwinism

the rise of “SOCIAL DARWINISM”
HERBERT SPENCER (1820-1903): “SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST”
intersection with liberalism and nationalism
competition and struggle as human condition
National survival
Darwinian model of international politics
imperialism and scientific racism
EUGENICS and national strength
“Three generations of imbeciles are enough.”