Darwin and Social Darwinism CHY4U Unit 3

Day 1

Review: Britain in the 19th century Economic change? Social change? The political spectrum We now know that even biological views were changing…

How did natural selection shape views and perspectives of the 19th century? Darwin Traditional Thinking ________ thinking Religious Dogma ________ is key Divine Creation ________and progress are possible and common _______ is not desirable – God created everything perfect

NATURAL selection vs. Divine CREATION How did natural selection shape views and perspectives of the 19th century? Darwin Traditional Thinking Scientific thinking Religious Dogma Environment is key Divine Creation Change and progress are possible and common Change is not desirable – God created everything perfect NATURAL selection vs. Divine CREATION

Day 2

Question: Where did Darwin Stand on the Political Spectrum? “I would not be a Tory, if it was merely on account of their cold hearts about that scandal to Christian Nations, Slavery." - To Revd. John Henslow, 1832 "It does one's heart good to hear how things are going on in England. Hurrah for the honest Whigs. I trust they will soon attack that monstrous stain on our boasted liberty, Colonial Slavery. - To John Herbert, 1833 Darwin, Charles. “Letter to J.S. Henslow” edited by the Darwin Correspondence Project, 2016. (Rio de Janeiro: 1832) https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/DCP-LETT-171.xml Darwin Charles. “Letter to John Herbert” edited by the About Darwin, 2016. (Rio Plata: 1833). http://www.aboutdarwin.com/darwin/WhoWas.html

In 1835 Darwin examined finches on Galapagos Islands… Although the islands were relatively close together, formed by the same rocks, with similar climates, at similar heights… the species of finches between the islands were different! Jonathan Clements, Darwin’s Notebook: The Life, Times, and Discoveries of Charles Robert Darwin (London: Quid Publishing, 2009), 50.

“The most curious fact is the perfect gradation in the size of the beaks in the different species of Geospiza*, from one as large as that of a hawfinch to that of a chaffinch… there are no less than six species with insensibly graduated beaks… Seeing this gradation and diversity of structure in one small, intimately related group of birds, one might really fancy that from an original paucity of birds in this archipelago, one species had been taken and modified for different ends.” *A type of finch Paul’s Birding Diary, http://paulsbirdingdiary.blogspot.ca/2013/03/hawfinch-and-other-garden-birds.html Jonathan Clements, Darwin’s Notebook: The Life, Times, and Discoveries of Charles Robert Darwin (London: Quid Publishing, 2009), 65.

PBS. Evolution Library. Adaptive Radiation – Darwin’s Finches. 2001 PBS. Evolution Library. Adaptive Radiation – Darwin’s Finches. 2001. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/01/6/image_pop/l_016_02.html (Nov. 10, 2011)

How did other scientific developments help Darwin shape views in 19th century England?

Influence of Charles Lyell In 1830, Lyell published Principles of Geology The book argued that slow natural forces, not Biblical forces, affected the earth’s formation In particular, the earth’s crust shifted. Darwin experienced an earthquake while in Chile and saw the ground rise by eight feet. Interestingly, Lyell did not believe in evolution. PBS, Evolution, 2001 <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/02/4/image_pop/l_024_01.html> (April 28, 2008).

Influence of Thomas Malthus In 1838, Malthus saw that the inequalities created by England’s Industrial Revolution. The owners become rich through the means of production, while the workers were exploited Through urbanization, cities became more crowded and ordinary people struggled for their daily existence Population growth would lead to an inevitable shortfall of food Humans in a ceaseless struggle for existence to survive famine, disease and war

“These ideas galvanized Darwin’s thinking about the struggles for survival in the wild, where restraint is unknown. Before reading Malthus, Darwin had thought that living things reproduced just enough individuals to keep population stable. But now he came to realize that, as in human society, populations bred beyond their means, leaving survivors and losers in the effort to exist.” PBS, Evolution – Darwin and Malthus, 2001 , http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/02/5/1_25_01.html (April 24, 2015).

Question From the voyage, Darwin saw first hand evidence of the struggle for survival. Both Lyell and Malthus’ theory contributed to Darwin’s thinking. Who had more influence on the shaping of Darwin’s theory?

Social Darwinism How might Darwin’s theory of “the survival of the fittest” be misapplied to various human races?

Social Darwinism: the theory that persons, groups, and races are subject to the same laws of natural selection as Charles Darwin had perceived in plants and animals in nature. Popular in the late 19th and early 20th century The struggle for existence is present between humans in society Survival of the fittest: The cultures of weaker groups would be limited by the power and cultural influence of stronger groups

Darwinism in a social context: sociocultural progress is the product of intergroup conflict and competition the socially elite classes (as those possessing wealth and power) possess biological superiority in the struggle for existence

Assessment: How did other scientific developments help Darwin shape views in 19th century England? Briefly describe the context (social, political, economic) of the 19th century. Briefly explain natural selection. Then, use thinkers, concepts and theories to answer the question. A good answer would relate these developments to the context. Write in your HTC journal.