Social Darwinism and the Social Darwinism and the Gilded Age IndustrialistGilded Age Industrialist

Charles DarwinCharles Darwin

MalthusianistMalthusianist

Wrote theWrote theOrigins of SpeciesOrigins of Species

Evolution based on Evolution based on adaptationadaptation

The strong survive The strong survive naturallynaturally

MalthusianismMalthusianism Darwin had read Darwin had read An Essay on An Essay on

the Principle of Population the Principle of Population (1789)(1789), by British economist , by British economist Thomas Malthus. Malthus Thomas Malthus. Malthus tried to prove that human tried to prove that human populations tend to increase populations tend to increase more rapidly than food and more rapidly than food and other necessities. The result other necessities. The result is a struggle in which some is a struggle in which some people succeed and become people succeed and become wealthy while others fail or wealthy while others fail or even starve. even starve.

Believed that starvation and Believed that starvation and poverty were natural forms of poverty were natural forms of deselection.deselection.

http://www.bartleby.com/65/ma/Malthus.htmlhttp://www.bartleby.com/65/ma/Malthus.html

Darwin’s Darwin’s Origins of Species Origins of Species 18591859

Must have variations within a species to surviveMust have variations within a species to survive Struggling and living or dying could not lead to Struggling and living or dying could not lead to

evolution if all members of each species were evolution if all members of each species were exactly alike. exactly alike.

Darwin found that members of a single species Darwin found that members of a single species vary greatly in shape, size, color, strength, and so vary greatly in shape, size, color, strength, and so on. on.

He also believed that most of these variations He also believed that most of these variations could be inherited. could be inherited.

http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/charles_darwin/origin_of_species/indexhttp://www.infidels.org/library/historical/charles_darwin/origin_of_species/index.shtml.shtml

Natural SelectionNatural Selectionor Darwinismor Darwinism

Organisms with harmful variations are more Organisms with harmful variations are more likely to die before they can reproduce.likely to die before they can reproduce.

Useful variations are more likely to survive.Useful variations are more likely to survive. Survival leads to procreation and inherited Survival leads to procreation and inherited

helpful variations. helpful variations. Therefore, the struggle for existence selects Therefore, the struggle for existence selects

organisms with helpful variations but makes organisms with helpful variations but makes others die out. others die out.

Darwin called this process Darwin called this process natural natural selectionselection. .

Herbert SpencerHerbert Spencer1820-19031820-1903

The Evolution of Society The Evolution of Society Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism

Applied Darwinism to humansApplied Darwinism to humans Some peoples adapt better than others naturallySome peoples adapt better than others naturally Those who adapt more efficiently dominateThose who adapt more efficiently dominate Came up with the term ‘survival of the fittest’Came up with the term ‘survival of the fittest’ Natural order observable via scientific meansNatural order observable via scientific means Empirically evidentEmpirically evident Justified market economies, imperialism, colonialism, Justified market economies, imperialism, colonialism,

racism, and general global coercive domination that is racism, and general global coercive domination that is still evident in this day and agestill evident in this day and age

Herbert SpencerHerbert Spencer http://www2.truman.edu/~rgraber/cultev/spencer.htmlhttp://www2.truman.edu/~rgraber/cultev/spencer.html

SocialSocial DarwinismDarwinism

Society should allow the weak and less fit to Society should allow the weak and less fit to fail and die, and that this is not only good fail and die, and that this is not only good policy, but morally right.policy, but morally right.

Rationalized by the notion that colonized Rationalized by the notion that colonized nations, poor people, or disadvantaged nations, poor people, or disadvantaged minorities must have deserved their minorities must have deserved their situations because they were “less fit” than situations because they were “less fit” than those who were better off. those who were better off.

Spencer’s publication sold over 400,000 Spencer’s publication sold over 400,000 copies in the US alone, and was one of the copies in the US alone, and was one of the most most influential thinkersinfluential thinkers of the late 19 of the late 19thth centurycentury

EugenicsEugenics

Improvement of the human race through genetic Improvement of the human race through genetic means is called means is called eugenicseugenics. The word . The word eugenicseugenics comes from a Greek word that means “wellborn.” comes from a Greek word that means “wellborn.”

Supporters of Supporters of eugenicseugenics seek to change the human seek to change the human race through artificial selectionrace through artificial selection

The controlled breeding of people who have certain The controlled breeding of people who have certain physical characteristics or mental abilities. physical characteristics or mental abilities.

Natural jump from social DarwinismNatural jump from social Darwinism If we celebrate natural selection, then lets speed up the If we celebrate natural selection, then lets speed up the

processprocess

Robber BaronsRobber Barons

Andrew CarnegieAndrew Carnegie

JP Morgan

DuPont

Vanderbilt

The Robber BaronThe Robber Baron

Defined- a set of avaricious rascals who habitually Defined- a set of avaricious rascals who habitually cheated and robbed investors and consumers, cheated and robbed investors and consumers, corrupted government, fought ruthlessly among corrupted government, fought ruthlessly among themselves, and in general carried on predatory themselves, and in general carried on predatory activities comparable to those robber barons of activities comparable to those robber barons of medieval Europe.medieval Europe.

The Robber Baron Concept in American HistoryThe Robber Baron Concept in American History

Carnegie Audio QuoteCarnegie Audio Quote

This, then, is held to be the duty of the man of This, then, is held to be the duty of the man of wealth: first, to set an example of modest wealth: first, to set an example of modest unostentatious living, shunning display; to provide unostentatious living, shunning display; to provide moderately for the legitimate wants of those moderately for the legitimate wants of those dependent upon him; and, after doing so, to dependent upon him; and, after doing so, to consider all surplus revenues which come to him consider all surplus revenues which come to him simply as trust funds which he is strictly bound as a simply as trust funds which he is strictly bound as a matter of duty to administer in the manner which, matter of duty to administer in the manner which, in his judgment, is best calculated to produce the in his judgment, is best calculated to produce the most beneficial results for the community. most beneficial results for the community.

Audio Clip http://www.clpgh.org/exhibit/carnegie.htmlAudio Clip http://www.clpgh.org/exhibit/carnegie.htmlBiography http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/acs/1890s/carnegie/carnegie.htmlBiography http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/acs/1890s/carnegie/carnegie.htmlHome http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carnegie/sfeature/t_conserv_hi.htmlHome http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carnegie/sfeature/t_conserv_hi.html

The Gilded Age BusinessThe Gilded Age Business

Birth of the corporationBirth of the corporation Based on minority ownership Based on minority ownership Legally established authority of a small group of Legally established authority of a small group of

directors representing stock holdersdirectors representing stock holders Power over a large diverse collection of businessesPower over a large diverse collection of businesses Previously the American economy had been based Previously the American economy had been based

upon individual achievement and the Protestant work upon individual achievement and the Protestant work ethicethic

After the ‘corporate revolution’ businesses After the ‘corporate revolution’ businesses deemphasized the human element but kept the deemphasized the human element but kept the protestant work ethicprotestant work ethic

Due to a surplus of immigrant workers, the businesses Due to a surplus of immigrant workers, the businesses could minimize wages thus maximizing profitscould minimize wages thus maximizing profits

MonopoliesMonopolies Efficiency= good businessEfficiency= good business Price fluxuations are bad business-Price fluxuations are bad business-

difficult to plandifficult to plan If you control the entire process from If you control the entire process from

raw materials to final product then raw materials to final product then you stabilize costs of all materials you stabilize costs of all materials and transportationand transportation

Created cartels to control prices Created cartels to control prices Stability leads to long term planning Stability leads to long term planning

and maximized profitsand maximized profits

Industrial PowerIndustrial PowerCARNEGIECARNEGIE including detailed cost and including detailed cost and

production and accounting production and accounting procedures that enabled the procedures that enabled the company to achieve greater company to achieve greater efficiencies efficiencies

Owned coke fields and iron-Owned coke fields and iron-ore deposits that furnished ore deposits that furnished the raw materials for the raw materials for steelmaking steelmaking

Owned the ships and railroads Owned the ships and railroads that transported these that transported these supplies to his mills and supplies to his mills and manufacturing plantsmanufacturing plants

Any technological innovation Any technological innovation that could reduce the cost of that could reduce the cost of making steel was speedily making steel was speedily adopted adopted

JP MORGANJP MORGAN As a financier, he provided As a financier, he provided

the rapidly growing industrial the rapidly growing industrial corporations of the United corporations of the United States with much-needed States with much-needed capital capital

minimized a potentially minimized a potentially destructive rate war and rail-destructive rate war and rail-line competition between line competition between railroadsrailroads

After reorganizing railroads he After reorganizing railroads he became a member of the became a member of the boards of directors of manyboards of directors of many

Held sway over a large Held sway over a large conglomerate of railroads as conglomerate of railroads as he bought up their stockhe bought up their stock

Survival of the fittest in Survival of the fittest in businessbusiness

struggle to survive was a matter of struggle to survive was a matter of business, not philosophybusiness, not philosophy

Laissez-faire economics allowed for Laissez-faire economics allowed for maximization of resourcesmaximization of resources

Working inside the confinements of the Working inside the confinements of the lawlaw

Some wanted the Sherman Anti-trust Some wanted the Sherman Anti-trust Act so that they would understand Act so that they would understand exactly what was lawful and notexactly what was lawful and not

Businessman's PerspectiveBusinessman's Perspective

Industrialists desired efficiencyIndustrialists desired efficiency Industrial Revolution was a positive that Industrial Revolution was a positive that

eventually led to progresseventually led to progress Business domination was the order of the Business domination was the order of the

dayday Business was a day to day struggle in which Business was a day to day struggle in which

your ability to adapt was key to survivalyour ability to adapt was key to survival Businesses still adapting todayBusinesses still adapting today

Academic PerspectiveAcademic Perspective

Social Darwinism seems to be a Social Darwinism seems to be a perfect fit to explain the monumental perfect fit to explain the monumental rise of the corporation that rise of the corporation that ‘enslaved’ its workers because of the ‘enslaved’ its workers because of the survival of the fittest ideal.survival of the fittest ideal.

Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking

If the Gilded Age Industrialist was a If the Gilded Age Industrialist was a raging Social Darwinist then where is raging Social Darwinist then where is the evidence?the evidence?

Struggle for existence is defining the Struggle for existence is defining the industrially fittest to surviveindustrially fittest to survive

Entrepreneur Vs. Social Entrepreneur Vs. Social TheoristTheorist

There is little evidence that these businessmen There is little evidence that these businessmen designed there activities around a social designed there activities around a social theorytheory

The only confirmed Social Darwinist was The only confirmed Social Darwinist was Carnegie who claimed Spencer as a personal Carnegie who claimed Spencer as a personal friend. In his autobiography Carnegie claims friend. In his autobiography Carnegie claims ‘seldom has one been more deeply indebted ‘seldom has one been more deeply indebted that I to him and Darwin’.that I to him and Darwin’.

How does this explain Carnegie’s How does this explain Carnegie’s philanthropy?philanthropy?

Congressional CommitteesCongressional Committees

During committee meetings investigating antitrust During committee meetings investigating antitrust issues in the early 1900’s, many entrepreneurs were issues in the early 1900’s, many entrepreneurs were questioned questioned

When asked about their thoughts on social Darwinism When asked about their thoughts on social Darwinism one Roeliff Brinkerhoff, a banker replied, ‘he was a one Roeliff Brinkerhoff, a banker replied, ‘he was a Social Darwinist insofar as it affected his religious Social Darwinist insofar as it affected his religious beliefs, not his social view’.beliefs, not his social view’.

Thomas Mellon, founder of the Mellon banking fortune Thomas Mellon, founder of the Mellon banking fortune claimed in his 1885 autobiography devoted 15 pages claimed in his 1885 autobiography devoted 15 pages to evolution, all dealing with its impact on religion.to evolution, all dealing with its impact on religion.

Many of these entrepreneurs were merely exercising Many of these entrepreneurs were merely exercising their protestant work ethic.their protestant work ethic.

Congressional CommitteesCongressional Committees

Benjamin Brewster testified to Benjamin Brewster testified to Congress in 1889 that there were Congress in 1889 that there were natural laws governing business, but natural laws governing business, but they had nothing to do with they had nothing to do with evolution, but rather the laws of evolution, but rather the laws of supply and demand.supply and demand.

The AcademicsThe Academics

Many of the proponents of Social Many of the proponents of Social Darwinism were thinkers, not doers.Darwinism were thinkers, not doers.

College professors, journalists, College professors, journalists, newspaper editors, sociologists, newspaper editors, sociologists, philosophers, clergymen, and other philosophers, clergymen, and other educationally advantaged persons.educationally advantaged persons.

The EntrepreneursThe Entrepreneurs

Many had little formal educationMany had little formal education One claimed that he didn’t have time One claimed that he didn’t have time

to read books, he was trying to run a to read books, he was trying to run a corporation.corporation.

Quotable QuotesQuotable Quotes The growth of the large business is The growth of the large business is

merely the survival of the fittest, the merely the survival of the fittest, the working out of nature and a law of working out of nature and a law of God-God- JD Rockefeller Jr.JD Rockefeller Jr.

The time has come to do away with The time has come to do away with needless waste- needless waste- JD RockefellerJD Rockefeller

Competition: we cannot evade it. And while Competition: we cannot evade it. And while the law may be sometimes hard for the the law may be sometimes hard for the individual, it is best for the race, because it individual, it is best for the race, because it ensures the survival of the fittestensures the survival of the fittest.-A. Carnegie.-A. Carnegie

Quotable QuotesQuotable Quotes

A man who accumulates great wealth has a duty A man who accumulates great wealth has a duty to use his surplus wealth for the improvement of to use his surplus wealth for the improvement of mankind in philanthropic causes- A. Carnegiemankind in philanthropic causes- A. Carnegie

A man who dies rich dies disgraced- A. Carnegie A man who dies rich dies disgraced- A. Carnegie

Social Darwinism and WarSocial Darwinism and War The leaders of Europe on the eve of World War I The leaders of Europe on the eve of World War I

were mislead by the Social Darwinist dogma. were mislead by the Social Darwinist dogma. They thought that war was a biological necessity. They thought that war was a biological necessity.

We needed WW I to prove who will dominate.We needed WW I to prove who will dominate.

BibliographyBibliographyBannister, Robert C.Bannister, Robert C.

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Darwin, Charles. Britannica Student Encyclopedia. Retrieved March  7, 2005, Darwin, Charles. Britannica Student Encyclopedia. Retrieved March  7, 2005, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online. from Encyclopædia Britannica Online. <<http://http://www.search.eb.com.oberon.ius.edu/ebi/article?tocIdwww.search.eb.com.oberon.ius.edu/ebi/article?tocId=231232=231232> >