Lecture Notes: Darwin's Theory of Evolution vs. Social Darwinism

Key Concepts

Natural Selection

• Variation & Heredity: Variation in populations is heritable and can affect survival and reproduction.
• Evolution Over Generations: Traits that enhance survival can become more common over generations.
• Misconception: No race or organism is "more evolved"; all have been evolving.

Social Darwinism

• Misapplication of Darwin's Theories: Sociologists, like Herbert Spencer, applied Darwin's ideas to justify social hierarchies and inequalities.
• Survival of the Fittest: Coined by Spencer, not Darwin, to explain social disparities.
• Justification for Inaction: Used to justify social inequalities and lack of government intervention.

Social & Biological Misinterpretations

Eugenics

• Misguided Beliefs: Idea of improving human race by breeding out undesirables.
• Biological Reality: Reducing genetic variation is detrimental to population health.
• Uncertainty in Evolutionary Adaptation: Variation prepares populations for unforeseen challenges (e.g., diseases).

Cultural vs. Biological Confusion

• Cultural Superiority: Mistaken for biological superiority; cultural traits labeled as biological inferiority.
• Colonialism & Civilization: Justified by the idea of "civilizing" less evolved cultures.

Biological Misunderstandings

Lamarckian Evolution

• Herbert Spencer's Error: Believed in acquired traits being genetically passed on, which is incorrect.
• Genetic Traits: Acquired traits aren't inherited genetically; teaching does not alter genetics.

Biological Basis of Race

• Race as a Social Construct: More genetic variation within races than between them.
• Genetic Similarity: Humans are 99.9% genetically identical.
• Arbitrary Categorization: Race is a superficial categorization with little genetic basis.