We wish to remark here how a small change of almost similar words
serves as a defence of capitalism. Darwin spoke about the survival of
the fittest, of those that are best fitted to the conditions. Seeing
that in this struggle those that are better organized conquer the
others, the conquerors were called the vigilant, and later the “best.”
This expression was coined by Herbert Spencer. In thus winning on their
field, the conquerors in the social struggle, the large capitalists,
were proclaimed the best people.
Haeckel retained and still upholds this conception. In 1892 he said,
“Darwinism, or the theory of selection, is thoroughly aristocratic; it
is based upon the survival of the best. The division of labor brought
about by development causes an ever greater variation in character,
an ever greater inequality among the individuals, in their activity,
education and condition. The higher the advance of human culture, the
greater the difference and gulf between the various classes existing.
Communism and the demands put up by the Socialists in demanding an
equality of conditions and activity is synonymous with going back to
the primitive stages of barbarism.”
The English philosopher Herbert Spencer already had a theory on social
growth before Darwin. This was the bourgeois theory of individualism,
based upon the struggle for existence. Later he brought this theory
into close relation with Darwinism. “In the animal world,” he said,
“the old, weak and sick are ever rooted out and only the strong and
healthy survive. The struggle for existence serves therefore as a
purification of the race, protecting it from deterioration. This is
the happy effect of this struggle, for if this struggle should cease
and each one were sure of procuring its existence without any struggle
whatsoever, the race would necessarily deteriorate. The support given
to the sick, weak and unfit causes a general race degeneration.
If sympathy, finding its expressions in charity, goes beyond its
reasonable bounds, it misses its object; instead of diminishing, it
increases the suffering for the new generations. The good effect of the
struggle for existence can best be seen in wild animals. They are all
strong and healthy because they had to undergo thousands of dangers
wherein all those that were not qualified had to perish. Among men
and domestic animals sickness and weakness are so general because the
sick and weak are preserved. Socialism, having as its aim to abolish
the struggle for existence in the human world, will necessarily bring
about an ever growing mental and physical deterioration.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account