1. Social Darwinism
By Ben Walker

2. What
Herbert Spencer, a 19th century philosopher, promoted the idea of Social Darwinism.
Most people associate the phrase "Survival of the Fittest" with Darwin and the theory of evolution. Actually, Darwin didn't originate nor use that phrase.
It was coined by one of the shapers of Social Darwinism.

3. What
Social Darwinism is the general term which applies to several different ways in which people (not biologists) tried to apply a distorted and narrow interpretation of the concept of natural selection to human cultural systems.
None of these political ideologies is actually any part of evolutionary theory.
The seeds of Social Darwinism were actually planted before the publication of The Origin of Species (though of course the name didn't originate until after).
Darwin knew of, and rejected, the notion that his description of natural processes had any useful application in shaping human culture.

4. Application
One of the ways in which some people tried to apply a social version of natural selection formed part of the framework for the development of Nazism. This view embraced the assumption that the strong were superior, and thus ordained to prevail.
Thus, if two countries were to make war on each other, the victor was biologically superior to the loser.
The implications of Social Darwinism were used as scientific justification for the Holocaust.
The Nazis claimed that the murder of Jews in World War II was an example of cleaning out the inferior genetics.

5. Application
A second way pseudo-evolutionary concepts were applied to human interaction was in the development of cut-throat capitalism in the United States. Here the ideology was that the cream naturally rose to the top; the successful made a lot of money simply because they were superior to the unsuccessful.
Those who found themselves in poverty were poor because they were intrinsically inferior. This political philosophy resisted suggestions like universal education, welfare, minimum wage — in short, anything which interfered with the business of the "superior" ascending to the top of the heap and squashing the unfit beneath their expensive shoes.

6. Conclusion
Many philosophers noted evolutionary echoes in Hitler's march to exterminate an entire race of people.
Various other dictators and criminals have claimed the cause of Social Darwinism in carrying out their acts.
Even without such actions, Social Darwinism has proven to be a false and dangerous philosophy.
It is important to note that Darwin did not extend his theories to a social or economic level, nor are any credible evolutionists subscribing to the theories of Social Darwinism.
Herbert Spencer's philosophy is only loosely based on the premises of Darwin's work.
Though Darwin did not promote Social Darwinism, basic evolutionary theory raises some nagging questions.