Evolution, Genetics, and Their Disastrous Consequences

Evolution, Genetics, and Their Disastrous Consequences

Galton, Spencer, and other thinkers restructured Charles Darwin’s theory of Evolution to their concepts, expounding it in the way they thought fit their own social experience and service. For instance, “struggle for existence” was the center of Darwin’s theory and was used by these thinkers to explain the competition in the Britain economy which made some civilians wealthier and others poorer. These thinkers based on struggle for the fittest claimed that wealth flourish through a competitive economy an argument supported by Evolution in the fact that species compete and struggle and only the best survive. Spencer argued that according to the law of Evolution, progress could only be achieved through competition and struggle. Additionally, he claimed that both physical and moral fitness is determined by the class of an individual as high-class citizens are more fit than lower-class individuals (Rohatynskyj, 2018). Weakening a species’ opportunity to develop struggles and collaboration may enhance their existence competence through sociability. Further, these thinkers argued that psychological, physical, and ethics are hereditary. The eugenic theory explains that professionally skilled personnel must control the rates of reproduction and ensure that the wealthy give birth to kids. At the same time, the poor are discouraged or prevented from having children.

Yes, the original ideas of Evolution and genetics were flawed. For instance, eugenics brought about discrimination and isolation between the poor and creamy on the rights of getting children and hence the creation of social classes, and it could not aid in social service progress. Eugenics also featured debates about the position of a woman, which enhanced gender discrimination. Social Darwinism was used to define and validate a whole of competing and ideological positions hence creating controversies (Gare, 2017). These controversies caused myriad misunderstandings and further worsened the spirit of discrimination and isolation.  Social Darwinism was deliberately developed to upgrade and disgrace political rivals and claim Darwin for themselves, and hence human troubles and cultures left untouched (Kaye, 2017). Additionally, social Darwinism and eugenics overturned traditional Judeo-Christian and Enlightenment ethics, for instance, the sacredness of human life (Weikart, 2016). However, these thinkers and their theories exalted evolutionally fitness, aptitude, and health and reinforced moral contingent. Additionally, the disastrous consequences may have been caused by racism and social segregation, depending on the living and social standards of people. Also, the fight for power and authority as they strangle for the fittest may have caused more negative consequences.

In conclusion, Evolution and genetics play a key role in explaining the growth and social life of a human being to fit in the economy. However, the reconstruction of Darwin’s evolution theory led to formation of social Darwinism and eugenics theories, which contributed to discrimination and social segregation. The perception further contributed to disastrous effects such as witnessed murder after the second world war. With this information, we can claim that the original ideas on which evolution and genetics perspectives were flawed.

References

Gare, A. (2017). Darwinism. The Wiley‐Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social Theory, 1-10.

Kaye, H. (2017). The social meaning of modern biology: From social Darwinism to sociobiology. Routledge.

Rohatynskyj, M. (2018). Social Darwinism. The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology, 1-3.

Weikart, R. (2016). From Darwin to Hitler: evolutionary ethics, eugenics, and racism in Germany. Springer.