This article explains how social Darwinism has been applied to individuals and groups since the 19th century, combining with laissez-faire, nationalism, and imperialism to justify social inequality and imperialism.
Social Darwinism is a social theory that applies Darwin’s theory of biological evolution to individuals and groups. The central concepts of social Darwinism are “competition for survival” and “survival of the fittest,” which emerged in the 19th century and were combined with laissez-faire, nationalism, and imperialism, depending on whether they were applied to individuals or groups. These theories had a profound impact on many aspects of society at the time, and were interpreted and applied in a variety of ways.
In the 1860s, Spencer, a leading British social Darwinist, argued that life in human society is a “competition for survival” among individuals, and that competition is governed by the “survival of the fittest. Spencer recognized that the poor are naturally “culled” and should not be helped by artificial means, and that the gap between rich and poor is inevitable in the process of social evolution. These arguments were used to justify the reality of free competition and underdevelopment and to bolster individualistic sentiment in Britain and the United States as capitalism expanded.
In the late 19th century, Kidd, Pearson, and others justified racism and imperialism by arguing that it was a law of nature for superior groups to dominate inferior groups by applying “competition for survival” and “survival of the fittest” to groups such as races, ethnicities, and nations. Social evolutionary theory, combined with eugenics, was used to rationalize the imperialist, colonialist, and racist policies of Western powers by supporting beliefs in the cultural and biological superiority of Anglo-Saxon and Aryan peoples. During this period, there was a strong tendency to justify inequality on scientific grounds, which had a profound impact on society as a whole.
Meanwhile, in Japan, the theory of social evolution was embraced by the civilization flowering theorists at the end of the 19th century. They applied ‘competition for survival’ and ‘survival of the fittest’ to national and ethnic units and emphasized Western-style modern civilized nation-building and militarism based on the logic of ‘weakest and strongest’ and ‘winning and losing’. Furthermore, he argued that it was natural for Japan, which was well adapted to global trends, to dominate Joseon, which was lagging behind in the competition, which later led to colonialism. This became a logical basis for Japan to justify its domination of the Korean peninsula and other Asian countries.
Social Darwinism also had a strong influence on the intellectuals of the Old Han Chinese Reform School. Some of them, such as Yun Chih-ho, perceived defeat by a stronger power as an inevitable fate, leading them to discuss the possibility of Joseon’s destruction. Nationalists such as Park Eun-sik and Shin Chae-ho, on the other hand, embraced the same theory of social evolution and used it as a basis for their self-defense theory that in order for Joseon to survive, it must become a winner in the competition with Japan and other Western powers, and to do so, it must increase its strength.
Thus, social evolutionary theory became more than just an academic theory, but a political and social tool. It had a profound impact on the transformation and development of the societies of its time, and the way in which intellectuals and politicians embraced and applied the theory often determined the fate of their countries. In the 20th century, social Darwinism came under increasing criticism, but its influence remains. Today, its legacy lives on in many forms, and it’s important to reflect on it. A look back at the history of social Darwinism shows how influential the theory has been on society, and the need to approach it responsibly.
Moreover, there is room for these theories to have a negative impact in the modern world as well, and critical thinking and historical reflection are required to avoid repeating the errors of the past. For example, rising social inequality and global political trends in recent years show that the logic of social Darwinism is still being used in some variations. Therefore, a deeper understanding of how past theories and policies have changed and shaped society is essential. This is not just a list of historical facts, but a foundation for solving contemporary problems and creating a more just and equitable society. The different interpretations and applications of social evolutionary theory reflect the social and political context of the time, and this will allow us to better understand and respond to the complex issues of contemporary society.
