social Darwinism

<ethics, political philosophy> movement of thought that started in the late nineteenth century as an application of Charles Darwin's insights to human affairs; its most (in)famous exponent was Herbert Spencer. Social Darwinism holds that the principle of "the survival of the fittest" applies to human ethics and politics just as it does to biological evolution. Left-leaning critics often allege that social Darwinism provides an accurate description of - or an inexcusable attempt at justification for - life under capitalism.

[The Ism Book]

Edited by Giovanni Benzi

<2001-03-27>

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Nearby terms: Smith Adam « social constructivism « social contract theory « social Darwinism » Socrates » Socraticism » software