Re: Signs of Scientism

>>> Mervin Bitikofer <mrb22667@kansas.net> 01/22/06 10:30 PM >>>asks:
Herbert Spencer coined the term "survival of the fittest" didn't he?
Didn't Spencer's ideas actually predate some of Darwin's -- or at least
his publication? Sorry if this was all recently hashed and I missed or
forgot it. But social darwinism fascinates me even if in some morbid
sort of way.

Ted responds:
Yes, Spencer coined the term, which Darwin then employed in later editions
of the Origin of Species (but not the first edition). We can fairly assume
that Darwin regarded it as a fair summary of his idea of natural selection.

D himself was both more of a social Darwinist than is sometimes said (see,
e.g., Peter Bowler's downplaying of this in "Charles Darwin--The Man and His
Influence") and less than is sometimes said (see Michael Roberts' comments
on Richard Weikart's book a year or two ago). He realized that evolution
might have implications for social policy (and thus he was worried about
sending the best and brightest off to war), and at the same time he accepted
some conclusions of morality that go against selection (such as his
acceptance of vaccination for his own children, despite his expressed
realization that vaccination counters natural selection).

Ted
Received on Mon Jan 23 09:10:16 2006