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Charles darwin origin of species essay
Charles darwin origin of species essay
Eugenics and human genetics
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The publication of Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species in 1859 had far reaching consequences. One of the most important notions in his ground-breaking book was the claim that no species is fixed. Rather “a well marked variety may .... well be called an incipient species,” demonstrating that nature is not static but a continuum where varieties beget species. Assuming that man was a part of nature, a concept many scientists had come to accept, this principle could be extended to include human societies. Thus, by applying the principles of evolution, human stock could be manipulated and improved. Evolutionary principles were also applied to justify particular ideologies and human social organisations. Traditionally, Social Darwinism was defined in narrow terms, as a right-wing view. Modern historians have revised this view, claiming Social Darwinism encompasses a larger range of ideologies and evolutionary doctrines. Social Darwinists used evolution to justify laissez-faire capitalism, but not to the extent that traditional historians imply. Eugenics was a radical application of evolutionary principles to society, trying to build a ‘fitter’ race through direct measures. But Social Darwinism did not have the major influence on imperialism, militarism and nationalism which has been ascribed to it. Socialists were particularly taken by evolution, and far from it being self-defeating, Social Darwinism was used as a justification for socialism as a more evolved society. Darwin himself appeared to be a Social Darwinist, viewing society in terms of his own doctrine, judging from his writings.
Social Darwinism is difficult to define, as it encapsulates a number of concepts. Traditionally it has been viewed as a right wing phenomeno...
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... Doctrine." In Economic and Political Weekly 39, No. 35 (2003): …
Perry, Marvin. et al. Western Civilisation: Ideas, Politics and Society. 7th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2004.
Pichot, Andre. The Pure Society: From Darwin to Hitler. London, UK: Verso, 2009.
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Turda, Marius. Modernism and Eugenics. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.
Weikart, Richard. From Darwin to Hitler: Evolutionary Ethics, Eugenics and Racism in Germany. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004.
Weikart, Richard. "A Recently Discovered Darwin Letter on Social Darwinism." In Isis 86, No.4, (1995): 609-611
Zhao, Buyun. "Charles Darwin & Evolution." Charles Darwin & Evolution. Christ's College, 2009. Web. 04 May 2014.
"Social Darwinism." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2014. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.
Michael Ruse, The Darwinian Revolution, pub. 1979 by The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 60637
Perry, Marvin, et al. Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics and Society. 4th ed. Vol. I. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992.
Coffin, Judith G., and Robert C. Stacey. "CHAPTER 18 PAGES 668-669." Western Civilizations: Their History & Their Culture. 16TH ed. Vol. 2. New York, NY: W. W. Norton &, 2008. N. pag. Print.
Coffin, Judith G, et al. Western Civilizations: Their History & Their Culture. 17th ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Co, 2011. Print.
Flory, Harriette, and Samuel Jenike. A World History: The Modern World. Volume 2. White Plains, NY: Longman, 1992. 42.
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The concept of Social Darwinism was a widely accepted theory in the nineteenth-century. Various intellectual, and political figures from each side of the political spectrum grasped the theory and interpreted it in various ways. In this paper, we will discuss three different nineteenth-century thinkers and their conception of Social Darwinism. The conservative, Heinrich von Treitschke, and liberal Herbert Spencer both gave arguments on the usefulness of competition between people on a global scale. The anarchist, Peter Kropotkin, refuted the belief of constant competition among members of the same species and emphasized mutual aid.
Spielvogel, Jackson J. Western Civilization. 8th ed. Vol. 1. Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.
Klin, Candyce. “Darwinism as A Cultural Issue” Cedar Crest College, 2 June 2001. Web. 17
The belief of eugenics was well-known in the 20th century and the set of its ideals were adopted by many societies across the nation. Eugenics is a study of improving human species by keeping all of the desirable races or breeds. It developed a controversial science regarding to human heredity and personal traits such as positive and negative eugenics. For example, it stated that in order to improve the genetic quality of human race, the society should encourage individuals with superior genes to produce more offspring and discourage reproduction who are considered as socially unfit. These biased eugenics ideas were inspired by Darwin’s theory of natural selection and as well as Galton’s theory of hard heredity. Even in today’s society, people