Charles Darwin

political thinker

Who is the famous British scholar associated with these ideas?

Charles Darwin (ideas later applied socially as Social Darwinism).

What two major ideas is he known for?

• Natural Selection

• Survival of the Fittest

What does “survival of the fittest” mean?

Life is a struggle where winners survive and losers perish.

Is there a “win-win” outcome in survival of the fittest?

No — outcomes are competitive, not cooperative.

How are strength and weakness defined?

• Strong = winners

• Weak = losers

Does the survival of the fittest include mercy or compassion?

No — it is amoral, not based on empathy.

What is natural selection?

Traits that enhance survival and dominance are preserved over time.

Can moral values influence success under natural selection?

Yes — values like patriotism, obedience, loyalty, courage, and sympathy can strengthen a group.

Why can self-sacrifice matter?

Sacrificing for the common good can help a group or tribe dominate others.

How important is individual morality?

A single moral individual has little impact alone.

What matters more than individual morality?

Collective morality.

What traits make a group successful?

Shared honesty, integrity, discipline, and common virtues.

How does natural selection apply to society?

Groups that are organized, unified, and disciplined tend to dominate others.

Is success determined individually or collectively?

Collectively — success depends on group alignment.

How does social application align with natural selection?

Groups with advantageous traits outcompete and replace others.

How would you summarize Darwin’s perspective?

Social success is driven by competition and collective strength, not compassion or individual morality.

Are Darwin’s ideas descriptive or prescriptive in political theory?

They are often descriptive, but historically have been misused to justify inequality and domination.