Darwinism and Social Darwinism Chapter Notes | AP European History - Grade 9 PDF Download

Introduction

Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection, introduced in 1859, transformed biological science by explaining species evolution. This chapter notes explores Darwin’s core ideas and their misapplication in Social Darwinism, which justified social inequalities and imperialism. By examining the impact on racial theories and colonial policies, we uncover how these ideas shaped 19th-century societal attitudes and set the stage for 20th-century conflicts.

Darwinism: Theory of Natural Selection

Charles Darwin, an English naturalist and biologist, reshaped scientific understanding with his 1859 book, On the Origin of Species. His observations, especially from his voyages to the Galápagos Islands, led to the development of the Theory of Natural Selection, which clarified how species evolve over time.

Core Ideas of Darwinism

• Natural Selection: Darwin suggested that species evolve because individuals with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. Over time, these advantageous traits become more prevalent within the population.
• Survival of the Fittest: This phrase, often linked to Darwin’s theory, describes the mechanism by which organisms better adapted to their surroundings survive and pass on their beneficial traits.
• Evolution: Over extended periods, the accumulation of favorable traits results in evolutionary changes within species, a process Darwin called evolution. In essence, nature selects traits that enhance an organism’s survival in a particular environment.

Although Darwin’s natural selection offered a scientific explanation for biological transformations, his ideas were not originally intended to apply to human societies. Nonetheless, they later influenced social and political ideologies, giving rise to Social Darwinism.

Social Darwinism: Applying Evolution to Human Society

Origins of Social Darwinism

In his 1871 work, The Descent of Man, Darwin applied his theory of natural selection to humans, exploring how social interactions and human relationships could be interpreted through the lens of survival and competition. This concept was misinterpreted and misused to rationalize social, political, and economic disparities.

• Social Darwinism extended Darwin’s concept of “survival of the fittest” to human societies, asserting that certain races, nations, or social classes were inherently superior to others. It claimed that social and economic inequalities stemmed from these natural hierarchies.
• This ideology was used to justify imperialism, colonial exploitation, and discrimination against marginalized groups by portraying these actions as part of a natural order, suggesting that dominant societies were simply more “fit” to govern others.

Impact on Racial Theories and Imperialism

Social Darwinism became a tool to bolster racist and imperialist ideologies, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was employed to support the belief that certain races were naturally superior, especially the notion of white racial supremacy.

• Racial Hierarchies: Social Darwinism reinforced the idea that racial inequalities were biologically determined. It was used to perpetuate racial discrimination and colonial practices by depicting non-European societies as “primitive” or “less evolved.”
• Imperialism and Colonialism: The belief that the “fittest” nations had a responsibility to dominate and “civilize” others was central to justifying European imperialism, particularly in Africa and Asia. This ideology rationalized the exploitation and oppression of indigenous populations.

The Role of Popular Culture in Promoting Social Darwinism

• Rudyard Kipling’s “White Man’s Burden”: Kipling’s poem urged Europeans to embrace the “duty” of civilizing non-European peoples, presenting imperialism as a noble and essential task for the advancement of “inferior” races.
• Pear’s Soap Advertisements: In Britain, Pear’s Soap advertisements depicted dark-skinned individuals being “purified” by soap, implying that European practices were superior and that skin color could be altered. These ads reflected the widespread racial stereotypes fueled by Social Darwinism.

Criticism and Discrediting of Social Darwinism

Although Social Darwinism gained traction in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it has since been thoroughly debunked by modern science. Its application to human societies and its endorsement of racial hierarchies have been proven scientifically unfounded and morally unacceptable.

Modern Rejection of Social Darwinism

• Scientific Rejection: Advances in biology and genetics have demonstrated that humans share more genetic similarities than previously thought. The notion of racial superiority lacks scientific evidence, and claims of certain races being “naturally” superior have been disproven.
• Moral and Ethical Critique: The use of Social Darwinism to justify oppression, colonization, and racism has been widely condemned as unethical and harmful. Scholars have critically analyzed the historical context in which Social Darwinism supported these practices, rejecting its foundational premises.

Legacy in Historical Context

• Despite its rejection in scientific circles, Social Darwinism significantly influenced societal attitudes and policies during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 
• Its impact is evident in the racial policies of European empires during the colonial era, and its legacy remains a critical subject of study in the context of race and inequality.

Conclusion

Charles Darwin’s theories of natural selection and evolution fundamentally changed the scientific understanding of biology and species development. However, these ideas were misappropriated by advocates of Social Darwinism, who applied them to human societies to justify racial inequalities, imperialism, and exploitation. Though Social Darwinism has been discredited, its historical role in shaping European colonial policies and racial attitudes remains significant. Examining the misuse of Darwin’s theories provides insight into the social and political climate of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which influenced the conflicts and ideologies of the 20th century.

Key Terms

• Charles Darwin: An English naturalist renowned for his theory of evolution via natural selection, outlined in his 1859 work On the Origin of Species, which reshaped biological science and influenced social thought.
• Colonialism: The practice of establishing control over foreign territories, settling populations, and exploiting resources, often involving the subjugation of indigenous peoples and imposition of foreign governance.
• Eugenics: A discredited movement promoting selective breeding and sterilization to “improve” human genetics, often justified by Social Darwinism, leading to harmful policies like those seen in the Holocaust.
• Evolution: The process by which species transform over time through genetic variations driven by natural selection, reshaping biology and influencing social and economic theories.
• Exploitation: The unfair use of individuals or resources for personal gain, central to understanding power dynamics in Social Darwinism’s justification of social inequalities.
• Imperialist Tendencies: Attitudes promoting national expansion over other territories, often justified by Social Darwinism’s notions of racial and cultural superiority.
• Oppression: Systemic unjust treatment of groups, often rationalized by Social Darwinism’s hierarchical views, leading to widespread inequality and discrimination.
• On The Origin Of Species: Charles Darwin’s 1859 book introducing natural selection and evolution, revolutionizing biology and influencing societal views on progress.
• Pears Soap Advertisement: Late 19th-century British ads promoting soap as a symbol of purity, reflecting Social Darwinism’s racial stereotypes and notions of European superiority.
• Racialist Theories: Pseudoscientific beliefs in racial hierarchies, misusing Darwinism to justify discrimination and colonialism by claiming racial superiority.
• Rudyard Kipling: British author whose works, like “White Man’s Burden,” reflected imperialist ideals tied to Social Darwinism, promoting the “civilizing” mission of empires.
• Social Darwinism: A theory misapplying Darwin’s “survival of the fittest” to societies, justifying imperialism, racism, and inequality as natural outcomes of superiority.
• Survival of the Fittest: A concept from Darwin’s natural selection, misused in Social Darwinism to rationalize social hierarchies and imperialist dominance.
• The Descent of Man: Darwin’s 1871 book applying evolution to humans, later misused by Social Darwinists to justify social and racial inequalities.
• Theory Of Natural Selection: Darwin’s explanation of evolution through traits enhancing survival and reproduction, foundational to biology but misapplied in social contexts.
• White Man’s Burden: The imperialist notion that Western powers had a duty to “civilize” non-Western peoples, rooted in Social Darwinism’s racial superiority claims.