SOC 201 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1.15: Social Darwinism
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With social darwinism they could justify the enslavement of africans and the near genocide of native americans. Later, in germany, principles of social darwinism were invoked by the nazis to justify their decision to exterminate the jews. Spencer viewed social competition as a kind of purifying process in which the weak were weeded out. Spencer cautioned his readers not to feel pity for the losers the poor, weak, or otherwise disadvantaged. Social competition, spencer claimed, is a stern discipline, which is a little cruel that it may be very kind. He wrote about the pain and suffering (and deaths) of inferior people. These deaths only seemed to be tragic, said spencer. They are not tragic, but beneficial to society! (1852) the bottom line, said spencer, is that we must face facts:
