Darwin's Influence: Society Takes an Ugly Turn

HUMN541 Enlightenment and the Modern World

This paper explores Charles Darwin’s true evolutionary theories—natural selection and adaptation—versus the distorted ideology of Social Darwinism. While Darwin’s work focused on biological processes, Social Darwinism misapplied his ideas to justify social hierarchies, inequality, and eugenics. The paper critically examines these differences and their lasting impact on science, ethics, and society.