Social darwinism in american thought, 18601915, by richard. After examining the development of social darwinist theories by a number of european and american thinkers, mike hawkins explores the use of these theories in a. Tracing the impact of darwin on thinkers throughout the gilded age and the progressive era, social darwinism shows how a politically neutral scientific theory has. The takeaway from this book is that social darwinism, the belief that only the fittest whatever that means people among us should survive rule, whatever, is on shaky ground. Theorists such as herbert spencer and william graham sumner adopted the idea of the struggle for existence as justification for the evils as well as the benefits.
Social darwinism in european and american thought, 1860. The social and political thought of herbert spencer by david wiltshire. In 1944, he published his dissertation social darwinism in american thought, 18601915. Theorists such as herbert spencer and william graham sumner adopted the idea of the struggle for existence as justification for the evilsas well as the. Social darwinism in american thought ebook by richard. The term social darwinism itself was only coined in 1944, when the american historian richard hofstadter published a book entitled social darwinism in american thought. Socialdarwinisminamericanthought richardhofstadter thebeaconpressboston1955 introduction darwinismwasusedtostabilize. This book is a worthy addition to the monographs in the field of social history and contributes new food for thought for those who have read with. However, it was not a popular or general term, coming into widespread use only in the 1940s, with the publication of the american historian richard hofstadters book social darwinism in american thought. Always a morally repugnant doctrine, hofstaedter shows social darwinism to be logically suspect as well. The term, social darwinism, came into popular usage in the early part of the twentieth century. Theorists such as herbert spencer and william graham sumner adopted the idea of the struggle for existence as justification for the evilsas well as the benefitsof.
The chapter i liked most is the exploration of the way evolution as a basic documentation of the way evolutionary thought is absorbed and adapted into american thought, its a nice treatment. Social darwinism in american thought book by richard. Social darwinism in european and american thought, 18601945. Social darwinism, as almost everyone knows, is a bad thing. Richard hofstadter are societys disadvantaged doomed to get selected out of the economic pool. This essay will argue that social darwinism owes both its contemporary currency and its association with laissezfaire to hofstadters 1944 brilliant and in. Download pdf socialdarwinism free online new books in. Buy a cheap copy of social darwinism in american thought book by richard hofstadter. Social darwinism in american thought portrays the overall influence of darwin on american social theory and the notable battle waged among thinkers over the implications of evolutionary theory for social thought and political action. I was blown away by this book when i first read it, back in the 1970s. Social darwinism in american thought, 18601915 by richard. The outcome was the many variants of social darwinism that stretch into our own times.
Historically, proponents of social darwinism have used the theory to justify social inequality as being meritocratic. The original, 1944, edition of this book essentially brought the term social darwinism into the language. This wideranging study focuses upon the controversies surrounding the meaning and significance of social darwinism. Hofstadter overstates the significance of social darwinism. Buy the paperback book social darwinism in american thought by richard hofstadter at indigo. Social darwinism is a loose set of ideologies that emerged in the late 1800s in which charles darwins theory of evolution by natural selection was used to justify certain political, social, or. Social darwinism in american thought, book by richard. Cambridge core history of ideas and intellectual history social darwinism in european and american thought, 18601945 by mike hawkins skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Social darwinism in american thought by hofstadter, richard, 19161970. The authors work offers insight into how ideas born out of evolutionary theory continue to affect american values.
Social darwinism is a loose set of ideologies that emerged in the late 1800s in which charles darwin s theory of evolution by natural selection was used to justify certain political, social, or. Books similar to social darwinism in american thought. Nor does it move towards any greater theorizing about the reasons evolutionary thinking transformed so quickly into social darwinism in the u. Social darwinism in european and american thought, 1860 1945 book. Three times 12 social darwinism in american thought sumner himself put his position at yale in jeopardy, by his uncompromising stand on the unpopular side of a contra versyonce over the use of spencers work in teaching, once over his opposition to the protective tariff, and once over his denunciation of the spanishamerican war. The earliest use apparently was during darwins own lifetime, by a historian discussing land tenure in ireland. Theorists such as herbert spencer and william graham sumner adopted the idea of the struggle for existence as. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Social darwinismin american thought richardhofstadter thebeaconpressboston1955 introduction darwinismwasusedtostabilize. Social darwinism in american thought internet archive. Richard hofstadter analyzes the effects of darwins work on american social philosophy during the late nineteenth century. Darwinism evolutionary biology oxford bibliographies.
Social darwinism in american thought penguin books. Social darwinism in american thought by richard hofstadter. The application of models of evolution to human societies long preceded the publication of charles darwins o r ig in o f sp e c ie s in 1859, however. Social darwinism in american thought portrays the overall influence of darwin on american social theory and the notable battle waged among thinkers over the implications of evolutionary. Hofstadters documentation of the many shades of opinion generates a sense of deja vu, for few of the viewpoints we hear now are new and appear somewhere in the book, in a merrygoround of confused thinking. And i give it three stars because it did introduce me to many of the ideas and thinkers hofstadter highlights. Publication date 1955 topics nonclassifiable, nonfiction general, evolution, sociology publisher. Jan 20, 2017 the first book by richard hofstadter, the leading historian of his generation and, decades ago, my ph.
The most vigorous and influential american disciple of spencers social theory was william graham sumner. Is americas social landscape a battleground for the survival of the fittest where only the strong endure. Tracing the impact of darwin on thinkers throughout the gilded age and the progressive era, social darwinism shows how a politically neutral scientific theory has been adapted with skillful rhetoric to contradictory purposes. When darwin published the origin americans were preoccupied with slavery, the future of their nation, and the likelihood of war. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this.
Sumners adaptation of evolution to conservative thought deserves special attention, not only because of his historical importance as a popular teacher and writer, but also because he provided his age with a synthesis of three great products of western capitalist culture. Social darwinism in american thought search results iucat. Nature as model and nature as threat by hawkins isbn. Social darwinism is a modern name given to various theories of society that emerged. Read download social darwinism in american thought pdf pdf. Herbert spencer and cosmic evolution chapter 4 social. Social darwinism in american thought, 18601915 richard hofstadter. In search of human nature the decline and revival of darwinism in american social thought carl n. Social darwinism in american thought, 18601915 richard. Social darwinism in american thought book by richard hofstadter. Already in the eighteenth century, historians influenced. Social darwinism in european and american thought, 18601945 by mike hawkins march 1997.
Science and myth in anglo american social thought by robert bannister online at alibris. S o c i a l d a r w i n i s m university relations. Theorists such as herbert spencer and william graham sumner adopted the idea of the struggle for existence as justification for the evils as well as the benefits of. By richard hofstadter, philadelphia, university of pennsylvania press, 1944. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The widespread thesis of social darwinism, promoted at the end of the 19th century by spencer, was that evolutionary explanations were at odds with the development of ethics. Social darwinism in american thought, 18601915 by richard hofstadter. In his great book social darwinism in american thought, richard hofstadter even had the temerity and panache to give qualified praise to william jennings bryans long battle against the. Social darwinism in american thought, 18601915 on jstor. Nov 24, 2009 the widespread thesis of social darwinism, promoted at the end of the 19th century by spencer, was that evolutionary explanations were at odds with the development of ethics. The first book by richard hofstadter, the leading historian of his generation and, decades ago, my ph.
Social darwinism in american thought, 18601915 keller, a. Hypotheses of social evolution and cultural evolution were common in europe. Theorists such as herbert spencer and william graham sumner adopted the idea of the struggle for existence as justification for the evils as well as. Winner of the pulitzer prize in history in 1972, and a past president of both the organization of american historians and the american historical association, carl degler is one of americas most eminent living historians. Social darwinism in american thought, 18601915, by richard hofstadter. Tracing the impact of darwin on thinkers throughout the gilded age and the progressive era, this book shows how a politically neutral scientific theory has been adapted with skillful rhetoric to contradictory purposes. Buy social darwinism in american thought reprinted ed by hofstadter, richard isbn. It clarifies the nature of social darwinism and its relationship to the ideas of darwin, lamarck and herbert spencer. Social darwinism in european and american thought, 18601945 by mike hawkins march 1997 skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Social darwinism in american thought portrays the overall influence of darwin on american social theory and the notable battle waged among thinkers over the. If you really want to know why and how some of the contradictions in american social thought came into being, social darwinism is as excellent a study as you can hope to find. Social darwinism in american thought richard hofstadter.
Darwins influence on modern thought scientific american. Published boston, beacon press 1955 description 248 p. Social darwinism in american thought with a new introduction ed. Social darwinism is the application of darwins theory of natural selection to the evolution of human society. The man versus the state online book by herbert spencer. Socialdarwinisminamericanthought richardhofstadter. Read download social darwinism in american thought pdf.
The muchhonored late historian hofstadter inaugurated the study of social darwinism in his 1944 ph. It was a commercially successful 200,000 copies critique of late nineteenthcentury american capitalism and its ruthless dogeatdog economic competition and social darwinian selfjustification. It wasnt the whole of the case for laissezfaire economics. Series beacon paperbacks, 16 beacon contemporary affairs series subject headings evolution.
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