Social Darwinism?

[exl_chic]

what effects did social darwinism have on economics? politics? culture?

[pblcbox]

The concept of "Darwinism" implies a relationship to such beliefs as "survival of the fittest" and that beneficial genetic alterations and adaptations will be passed on to future generations of a species.

Sadly, this does not seem to apply to any of the three categories you've mentioned, as all three seem to be doing the exact opposite. In each of these cases, the trend has been not to specialize and grow more complex and adept, but rather to pander and cater to the lowest common denominator - that lowest common mentality or ideal. We don't get the best and brightest in politics, we get the greedy bastards that want the job instead. We don't get a more evolved culture, we get NASCAR and championship wrestling that's more fake than Pam Anderson's chest. We don't see an economic situation where the best possible outcome is sought for everyone, but rather a "me first" attitude.

So no, Darwinism has no place whatsoever in these areas.

[Guy]

I think social darwinism affected economics in that many believed that the black couldn't labor for his own good so economically free-markets can't work since people of different races are unequally productive. In politics there were (and are) sterilization laws in insane asylums, oddly enough liberalism, imperialism and nazism, and immigration quotas. You're probably like, liberalism? But you see the monopoly and rich people were seen as being not dynamic enough, too conservative, unable to adapt and evolve with evolutionary pressure so gov. was needed to make it so (anti-trust, welfare). Also it was believed that social darwinism was just a positive description of the world so many liberals weren't worried about it. They made no laws concerning race because they believed that by natural selection, the best were selected. In culture it was another nail in the coffin for racial tolerance and it was more air in the already patriotic balloons of national pride.