Re: Social Darwinism; was: So Long Judge Moore, We'll Miss You

> > Neither Nietzsche nor Hitler would make these statements without
> > presuming the fundamental principle of natural selection of Darwin at
> > the root.
> 
> Nonsense, as natural selection does not involve individuals dying for 
> the preservation of the species.

Are you kidding? What do you think Darwin means when he says that a
tribe that has more loyal and courageous warriors will supplant a
tribe with members less willing to die in support of each other? He's
talking about people willing to die for the propagation of the tribe.

> I see no mention of Darwin in either of those statements. You'll have to 
> prove a more concrete connection to even begin to demonstrate that they 
> made use of Darwin's ideas, much less to achieve your aim of tarnishing 
> Darwin's legacy.

To deny that Hitler borrowed from the doctrines of the Social
Darwinists is to really bury your head in the sand.

> > > Darwin is not responsible for what those who came after him did with his 
> > > work.
> > 
> > Darwin is responsible for his own dangerous mistakes.
> 
> And those are?

Social Darwinism, the theory that certain human groups which are
superior to another advance as a result of natural selection.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=social%20darwinism

If you don't think Darwin promoted that idea, consider the following:

"There is apparently much truth in the belief that the wonderful
progress of the United States, as well as the character of the people,
are the results of
NATURAL SELECTION; for the more energetic, restless, and courageous
men from all parts of Europe have emigrated during the last ten or
twelve generations to that great country, and have there succeeded
best."

Darwin, DESCENT OF MAN, Ch. 5.

> > Perhaps. But Darwin was an important building block in the Nazi
> > project.
> 
> I doubt that. Mein Kampf makes no mention of Darwin.  And, again, Darwin 
> is not responsible for people perverting his work.

Social Darwinism is his own work.

Searle