Stephanie Jones (Edison): Social Darwinism

First of all I would like to point out an important fact.  Herbert Spencer’s theories preceded Charles Darwin’s.   Spencer wrote “Progress: Its Law and Cause” in 1857 that was two years before Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species”.  Herbert Spencer did coin the phrase “survival of the fittest”.  I read both last semester in school.  I do recommend both.  Spencer’s theory a.k.a. Social Darwinism theory applies natural selection priniciples to human society.  This society should let the unhealthy and poor die because they are biological inferior and should not procreate.  I was horrified at Spencer’s theories and don’t think it is fair to Darwin to use his name to decribe some horrific idealogy.  For those that don’t know… this was the basic idealogy of the Nazi’s.  This theory has been used to support laissez-faire capitalism and political conservatism.  We need more activism and less political conservatism!   

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