A theory promoted by philosopher Herbert Spencer, arising in the late nineteenth century that the laws of evolution, which scientist Charles Darwin had observed in nature, also apply to society. Socia [..]

A concept based on the idea of "survival of the fittest." Based on Social Darwinism, Nazis created a pseudo-scientific brand of racism which was most virulent when directed against the Jews, [..]

The perverted adaptation of Charles Darwin's "survival of the fittest" concept of evolution - in which the belief that "superior humans" will eventually ove [..]

An early and now largely discredited view of social evolution emphasizing the importance of "survival of the fittest" or struggle between individuals, groups, or societies as the motor of development. Social Darwinism became widely popular in the latter half of the nineteenth century and was often used to justify existing inequali [..]

a theory of Charles Darwin who proposed that social relations develop in accordance with the principles of natural selection. It was proposed by Charles Darwin as the survival of the fittest.

The idea that, by analogy with natural selection, societies evolve through competition between individuals or groups.

The application of ideas about natural competition in the plant and the animal world to the study of urban social geography. See Chicago School, human ecology.

Social Darwinism is the theory that people are subject to the same laws of natural selection that Charles Darwin had proposed for plants and animals.

(toggle)A social theory which dominated the late 19th and early 20th century. The theory assumes that the less evolved cultural groups in the world were predestined to die out due to their decreased ability to cope with a changing environment. This was seen as a variation on Charles Darwin's 'survival of the fittest' theory. However, [..]

the theory that humans both as individuals and groups are subject to the same laws of natural selection as Darwin found in plants and animals. So, it is held that human development also demonstrates s [..]

An extension of the idea of biological evolution to human culture. An extreme laissez-faire notion that the poor are poor because they lack certain genetic characteristics that would fit them for economic survival. As the argument goes, society has no obligation to its poor since to help them would be to allow inferior types to survive, and thus in [..]

A loosely used term referring to social philosophies based on Darwinian evolutionism, especially the mechanism of natural selection.

The theory that the laws of evolution by natural selection also apply to social structures.

 A concept which models human society evolution over time by emphasising the struggle for existence of each society, alongside the survival of the fittest of them.