Presentation Darwinism and Social Science: Is there Any Hope for
9-29 - social darwinism
Transcript of 9-29 - social darwinism
Social Darwinism
STD 11.2.7 Objec7ve: assess the importance of social darwinism in the process of
industrializa7on
APK
• Charles Darwin • Ver7cal Integra7on • Horizontal Integra7on • Laissez Faire
Importance • How was Social Darwinism applied to business? – A. Man is born with quali7es that determine financial success.
– B. Man is inherently evil. – C. All men are created equal. – D. Mankind is a product of his environment.
Social Darwinism • Herbert Spencer – adapted Darwin’s
Origin of the Species • Based on the scien7fic studies of
Charles Darwin-‐ Natural Selec7on – Traits become more or less common in a
popula7on
• Ideas are applied to society and business
• Later will be applied to race -‐ Classical Racism
• Used to defend the power of new corporate elites.
• Only the fiXest survived
“There is not a poor person in the United States who was not made poor by his own shortcomings.”
CFU: What is Social Darwinism? Pair Share? Is it fair to tie Darwin to people?
Social Darwinism • Charles Darwin – survival of the fiXest
– Social Darwin theory evolved – Society should do as liXle as possible to interfere with peoples pursuit of success
AS A RESULT
Government did not TAX or REGULATE businesses!!! CFU: Why is Charles Darwin important? Pair Share: Is it possible to place Darwin’s theory to people? What would be the outcome?
Charles Darwin
Herbert Spencer
Lester Ward An7-‐Darwinist 1880’s • “Evolu7on does not apply
to human society” • Humans naturally use
reason and can change/adapt to the environment
• Progress occurs through inven7on and planning
• Laissez-‐fair, not natural • Government should serve
the people = intervene in society
• Educa7on will improve society
• “If nature progresses through destruc7on of the weak-‐ man progresses through protec7on of the weak.”
• Evolu7on through human intelligence will help economic and social problems
• “Ac7ve Government & posi7ve planning=Good for Society
CFU: Is Lester Ward for or against Social Darwinism? Pair Share: How do you believe he would attempt to solve business problems?
Sumner and Social Darwinism • William Graham Sumner, Yale professor supported Social
Darwinism • Said “Millionaires are the product of Natural Selec6on” • Pro-‐Business View of society
– Used to defend the power of new corporate elites. – Only the fiXest survived
• Pro Capitalism/Laissez Fair
• An7-‐Socialism • An7-‐Government Interference in Economy
• An7-‐Reform • Aide to the poor hinders natural process of progress
CFU: Is Sumner for or against Social Darwinism? Pair Share: How do you believe he would attempt to solve business problems?
Sumner & Social Darwinism
• Individuals must have absolute freedom to struggle, succeed or fail.
• Therefore, state interven7on to reward society and the economy is fu7le!
Rockefeller
• “The growth of large business is merely the survival of the fiXest. This is not an evil tendency in business. It is merely the working out of the law of nature and a law of god.”
Henry George Explained why poverty existed.
• “This associa7on of poverty with progress is the great enigma of our 7mes. So long as all the increased wealth which modern progress brings goes but to build up great fortunes, to increase luxury and make sharper the contrast between the house of have & the house of want… Progress is not real and cannot be permanent.”
• From Poverty and Progress
Results
• Extension of Laissez-‐faire • Discourage hand outs to poor
– Provide for all people – Gospel of Wealth
Social Darwinism Suppor7ng Causes • Coloniza7on
– Na7ves were weaker & unfit to survive – Took lands and felt jus7fied
• Military – Causali7es were wriXen off by the individuals unfit status
• Eugenics – Sterializa7on of people – Nazi Party in Germany
Pair Share: Do you believe Social Darwinism is a racist belief?
Problems
• Nature = morally correct??? – If it takes place in nature humans should follow
• IS vs OUGHT – You stubbed your toe this morning does not logically imply that you ought to have stubbed your toe!
• Darwinism = scien7fic theory
• Social Darwinism = ethicial theory
Pair Share: Is there anything that can tie Social Darwinism to nature?
Importance
• How was Social Darwinism applied to business? – A. Man is born with quali7es that determine financial success.
– B. Man is inherently evil. – C. All men are created equal. – D. Mankind is a product of his environment.
Closure
• Which of the following did Social Darwinism discourage? – A. Hard work – B. Industrializa7on – C. Government regula7on – D. The accumula7on of wealth
Closure • What statement might likely be made by an opponent of Social Darwinism?
• A. The wealthiest people have worked the hardest.
• B. The poor have created their own economic problems.
• C. Businesses succeed or fail because of natural laws.
• D. Species adapt differently than society or business.
Closure • Social Darwinism explained the success of industrial tycoons by saying that these business owners
• A. had succeeded by way of government regula7on.
• B. had been born into wealthy or privileged families.
• C. had overcome and eliminated weaker compe7tors.
• D. supported labor reform and other Progressive goals.