HIST 1000 Lecture 9: History #9
Document Summary
History #9: social darwinism: an example of the misuse of scientific theories. Takes what is rooted in biology and applies it to society: herbert spencer argued that society acts like an organism, no evidence for this, coined survival of the fittest". Often conflated with race: used by nationalists, nation argument: nation is an organism. Germany and italy were big on nation argument: germany was a powerhouse at the time, believed other nations were inferior. Superior volk: houston steward chamberland (1899) writes about aryan supremacy. Reason why germany was so great: phrenology: based on skull sizes. How they determined whether you would be a criminal, etc. Was considered a legitimate science at the time. Backed up social darwinism: there is no actual science behind either, nationalism: late 19th century idea. Begins by pledging allegiance to the nation rather than a ruler: why you learn the pledge in the us so early.