Middle class in English family Deep interest in science Influenced by his grandfather Erasmus Darwin Entered Cambridge University Becomes clergyman

The most momentous development in Darwin’s life. Left London in 1831 Galapagos Island Clergy natural scientist

Wrote long statement about his theory Published On the Origin of Species Became famous

A belief which states that the strongest or fittest should survive and flourish in society, while the weak and unfit should be allowed to extinct. The theory was chiefly expounded by Herbert Spencer, whose ethical philosophies always held an elitist view and received a boost from the application of Darwinian ideas such as adaptation and natural selection.

Herbert Spenser ( )  Relied on theories of evolution to explain differences between the strong and the weak

“Survival of the Fittest” “Natural Selection”

BUSINESS The strongest businesses will survive, the weak will be come extinct. The more financially successful people are the strong ones and will survive Poor deserve to be poor because they are unfit to be wealthy

Darwin-“Biological superiority” European white race represented a major advance over other “races”. Herbert Spencer ( ) Races of successful individuals had competed better in the natural world  evolved to higher states than the less fit people. Joseph Gobineau ( ) Claimed that race is the most important “index of human potential.” Africans: intelligent and lazy Asians: smart but docile The Native Americas: dull and arrogant EUROPEANS: INTELLIGENT, NOBLE and MORALLY SUPERIOR TO OTHERS.

Racist Thinkers: identify racial groups based on skin color, bone structure, nose shape, cranial capacity and other physical characteristics.  Emphasizing superiority of Europeans  Race theorists reflected the European imperial dominance in the world. Targets In Europe: Jews In the United States: Black people In Sweden: misfits, deviants, gypsies and others.

IMPACT OF SOCIAL-DARWINISM OF MODERN SOCIETY The Nazi Holocaust- Superiority of Aryan race. Killed over 5 million Jews Massacred at least 375,000 “inadequate” people. U.S developed sense of superiority over Filipinos. Constant torture Using degrading words to refer to the enemies President McKinley  attempt to “civilize” and “Christianize” the Filipinos. Japan-the Superiors in Asia. Japanese were more related to the “Aryans” by blood. Superior to the “Mongolians”-mostly populated in China and Korea. Victory in the Russo-Japanese War  An “Obligation” to help civilize their neighbor countries.