Social darwinism in american thought, 18601915 by richard hofstadter. Books similar to social darwinism in american thought. Buy the paperback book social darwinism in american thought by richard hofstadter at indigo. Jun 09, 2010 the most systematic and comprehensive effort yet made to assess the role played by darwinian ideas in the writings of englishspeaking social theorists of the latenineteenth and earlytwentieth centuries. 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. Darwinism evolutionary biology oxford bibliographies. Social darwinism in american thought, book by richard. 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. Hypotheses of social evolution and cultural evolution were common in europe. Social darwinism in american thought with a new introduction ed. By richard hofstadter, philadelphia, university of pennsylvania press, 1944.
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 laissezfaire modern industrial society. The social and political thought of herbert spencer by david. 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. The most vigorous and influential american disciple of spencers social theory was william graham sumner. Social darwinism in american thought portrays the overall influence of darwin on american social theory and the notable battle waged among thinkers over the. Social darwinism in american thought, 18601915 richard hofstadter. 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. Hofstadter overstates the significance of social darwinism. 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 laissezfaire. This is how he describes the situation in his foreword to that volume. Social darwinismin american thought richardhofstadter thebeaconpressboston1955 introduction darwinismwasusedtostabilize. The original, 1944, edition of this book essentially brought the term social darwinism into the language. This book and his study of antiintellectualismare landmark studies in history of american. 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.
This bookand his study of antiintellectualismare landmark studies in history of. Social darwinism in american thought book by richard hofstadter. In 1944, he published his dissertation social darwinism in american thought, 18601915. Richard hofstadter are societys disadvantaged doomed to get selected out of the economic pool. Social darwinism in american thought half price books. Apr 19, 2012 in the rebirth of social darwinism huffington post, december 1, 2011, california, berkeley political economist robert reich pronounced republican presidential candidates not conservatives, but regressives. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this.
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. Science and myth in anglo american social thought by robert bannister online at alibris. Diverse political and religious ideas draw upon evolutionary biology, including ideas advocating greater cooperation. Social darwinism in american thought examines 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. It was a commercially successful 200,000 copies critique of late nineteenthcentury. Read download social darwinism in american thought pdf. 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. Social darwinism arose in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Social evolution 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.
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. The earliest use apparently was during darwins own lifetime, by a historian discussing land tenure in ireland. Social darwinism in american thought, 18601915 by richard. Herbert spencer and cosmic evolution chapter 4 social. Social darwinism in european and american thought, 18601945 by mike hawkins march 1997. It deals with the rise of charles darwins ideas and their applications to the individual and society following the publication of the origin of species. The muchhonored late historian hofstadter inaugurated the study of social darwinism in his 1944 ph. Social darwinism in american thought penguin books. Social darwinism, as almost everyone knows, is a bad thing. Evolutionary theory shows us that the longterm survival of a species is. Social darwinism in american thought, 18601915 richard.
Darwins influence on modern thought scientific american. When darwin published the origin americans were preoccupied with slavery, the future of their nation, and the likelihood of war. By this time, however, the united states was experiencing many of the social and political problems besetting britain, in addition to the divisive issue of slavery, which made race a more. 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. Nor does it move towards any greater theorizing about the reasons evolutionary thinking transformed so quickly into social darwinism in the u. However, the use of the term was very rareat least in the englishspeaking world hodgson, 2004 33 until the american historian richard hofstadter published his influential social darwinism in american thought 1944 during world war ii. Social darwinism in american thought, 18601915 on jstor. Always a morally repugnant doctrine, hofstaedter shows social darwinism to be logically suspect as well. The america they seek is the one we had in the gilded age when social darwinism offered a moral justification for the wild inequities and social cruelties of the late. Richard hofstadter analyzes the effects of darwins work on american social philosophy during the late nineteenth century.
Science and myth in angloamerican social thought by robert c. 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. The only real connection between darwinism and social darwinism is the name. 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 internet archive. This essay will argue that social darwinism owes both its contemporary currency and its association with laissezfaire to hofstadters 1944 brilliant and in. 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 laissezfaire modern industrial society. Social darwinism in american thought paperback jan. 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. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. The first book by richard hofstadter, the leading historian of his generation and, decades ago, my ph. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Social darwinism in american thought portrays the overall influence of darwin on american social theory and the notable battle waged among thinkers over. 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.
Social darwinism in american thought richard hofstadter. Buy a cheap copy of social darwinism in american thought book by richard hofstadter. Social darwinism in american thought 9780807055038 by richard hofstadter, eric foner. Social darwinism in european and american thought, 18601945. It wasnt the whole of the case for laissezfaire economics. Theorists such as herbert spencer and william graham sumner adopted the idea of the struggle for existence as. Read download social darwinism in american thought pdf pdf. Social darwinism in american thought richard hofstadter download bok. Social darwinism in american thought books you may like.
Sumners social darwinism, he writes, although rooted in controversies during his lifetime, received its most influential expression in richard hofstadters social darwinism in american thought, which was first published in 1944. 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 by richard hofstadter. 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. Is americas social landscape a battleground for the survival of the fittest where only the strong endure. Social darwinism in european and american thought, 18601945 isbn 052157434x is a book by mike hawkins published in 1997. Jan 20, 2017 the first book by richard hofstadter, the leading historian of his generation and, decades ago, my ph. Social darwinism is any of various theories of society which emerged in the united kingdom, north america, and western europe in the 1870s, claiming to apply biological concepts of natural selection and survival of the fittest to sociology and politics. Social darwinism in american thought ebook by richard. Richard hofstadter is one of the truly outstanding historians in america. It was an intellectual movement associated with the theory of evolution in general but was principally derived from the works of charles darwin 1 18091882, especially his origin of species 1859. Socialdarwinisminamericanthought richardhofstadter. Social darwinism emerges and is used to justify imperialism. Publication date 1955 topics nonclassifiable, nonfiction general, evolution, sociology publisher.
After all, david ricardo made that case well before darwin saw any finches on any islands. By this time, however, the united states was experiencing many of the social and political problems besetting britain, in addition to the divisive issue of slavery, which made race a more immediate domestic concern and one, moreover, that was to be constantly fuelled by successive. Social darwinism in american thought by hofstadter, richard, 19161970. Buy social darwinism in american thought reprinted ed by hofstadter, richard isbn. The decline and revival of darwinism in american social thought. 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. Social darwinism in american thought richard hofstadter isbn. Download pdf socialdarwinism free online new books in. Social darwinism in european and american thought, 1860. 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.
The man versus the state online book by herbert spencer. Hawkins is keen to vindicate the essential theme, argument, and insights of the columbia historian richard hofstadters great 1944 book, social darwinism in american thought, against. Nature as model and nature as threat by hawkins isbn. Eugenics became a popular social movement in the united states that peaked in the 1920s and 1930s. Social darwinism in american thought book by richard. Social darwinism in american thought, 18601915 ebook, 2017.
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