the application of the theory of evolution and natural selection to human society was known as social evolution.
the application of the theory of evolution and natural selection to human society was known as social evolution.
the application of the theory of evolution and natural selection to human society was known as?
social evolution
as a scientific concept, social darwinism broadly declined in popularity following world war i and was largely discredited by the end of world war ii, partially due to its association with nazism and partially due to a growing scientific consensus that it was scientifically groundless. later theories that were categorised as social darwinism were generally described as such as a critique by their opponents; their proponents did not identify themselves by such a label. creationists have often maintained that social darwinism—leading to policies designed to reward the most competitive—is a logical consequence of "darwinism" (the theory of natural selection in biology). biologists and historians have stated that this is a fallacy of appeal to nature, since the theory of natural selection is merely intended as a description of a biological phenomenon and should not be taken to imply that this phenomenon is "good" or that it ought to be used as a moral guide in human society. while most scholars recognize some historical links between the popularisation of darwin's theory and forms of social darwinism, they also maintain that social darwinism is not a necessary consequence of the principles of biological evolution.
social darwinism
collins studied biology at the university of sussex, where his tutor was the leading theoretical biologist john maynard smith. in 1975 collins voiced to maynard smith the view that natural selection could not drive evolution because it always acted to reduce variation in favour of an optimum type for any environment, whereas the central story of evolution was that of increasing variation and complexity. collins quoted charles darwin in "the origin of species" ("... unless profitable variations do occur, natural selection can do nothing."), and argued that if variation must always occur before natural selection can act, then variation, and not natural selection, drives evolution. he asked maynard smith whether he could search for a "strong" theory of variation. maynard smith warned collins that he could not support his efforts to pursue a rival theory to the theory that natural selection drives evolution. collins replied that he thought the object of science was to question and examine everything, including hallowed theories such as the theory of natural selection. maynard smith asserted that, on the contrary, the strength of science was its capacity to agree on certain principles, and act collectively to pursue agreed aims. this difference of view with his tutor made collins give up his scientific career and pursue other interests instead.
warwick collins