HIST 3690 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Positive Force, Westminster Review, Social Darwinism
20 Apr 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
A collection of views - all essentially refer to darwinian ideas in society. Variety of political commitments supported by many political wings. Not just whigs, nor was it primarily tories. Darwin imported his work into his own through the natural world. Influence of malthus social darwinism comes full circle. Notion that darwin took malthusian idea of society and brought them into natural world - people then took darwinian ideas and brought them back into social world - full circle. Always be a struggle for existence/resources - common factor between the two men. Not positive or negative - just a natural assessment of how the natural world operates. Many saw it as positive - rising and commercial classes specifically. They saw their wealth, privilege, and comfort bound by natural law. They could argue that they are where they are in society because they are more fit. They could justify through this social and economic policies.
