In his theory of natural selection, Darwin made the following observations:
1. The resources of an environment are limited. Creatures produce more offspring than can
possibly survive. Members of a species must compete for limited resources and for
survival.
2. No two members of a species are exactly alike. Each organism contains an individual
combination of inherited traits. Some traits are useful for survival other traits are not.
3. Organisms that have useful traits reprodřce in greater numbers. Their offspring inherit the
traits. Organisms with unfavorable traits
eventually die off. The fittest survive.
4. Nature selects different traits at different times. Varieties within a species gradually create
a new species.
The publication of this theory started a sensational controversy. Many writers applied Darwin's
theory to sociology. They developed a controversial theory called Social Darwinism. Many
people, from Karl Marx to Captain Mahan to Adolf Hitler, employed Social Darwinism in their
arguments. How can people with vastly different viewpoints use the same argument to defend
their views?
Read the following basic argument for Social Darwinism. Does it adhere to the principles of
Darwin's theory? Why or why not?