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FinalPresentation.pptxOn the Origin of Species/The Descent of Man By Charles Darwin
Com 100 Final Project
Presented by: Kevin Mello
Specific Media - On the Origin of Species/The Descent of Man
Category: Print
Channel: Books
This presentation will explore the ways that Darwin's books impacted culture in regards to racism as well as presenting a scientific foundation for ethics.
I figured that we have seen enough powerpoint presentations on the impact of new technologies on our culture. I wanted to go a little old school while still maintaing significance.
Anti-Racism
Darwin presented the idea of one human race
Branching Evolution = Common Descent
“As natural selection acts by competition, it adapts the inhabitants of each country only in relation to the degree of perfection of their associates; so that we need feel no surprise at the inhabitants of any one country...”― Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species
We are all of the same race, Homo Sapien. http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/homo-sapiens
Darwin's theory of branching evolution implies that all species of living things on earth have evolved from a single unique oranism. This would mean that all humans, no matter which race, have common ancestory. Genetics, a later form of biology, has now confirmed that race is nothing more than a social construct.
Pro-Racism
Some used Darwin's theories to promote racism.
Unfortunately, some people misinterpreted Darwin's theories or misapplied Darwin's language in order to advance their own agendas.
Misapplying the Language of Evolution = Racism
Social Darwinism
Eugenics
Even Hitler's Nazi party drew some inspiration from Darwin's theories. https://www.csustan.edu/sites/default/files/History/Faculty/Weikart/Darwinism-in-Nazi-Racial-Thought.pdf
Herbert Spencer
"This survival of the fittest, which I have here sought to express in mechanical terms, is that which Mr. Darwin has called 'natural selection', or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life." -Herbert Spencer
Misapplication of Darwin's thoughts and ideas began political and social groups that believed in one groups superiority over others like Social Darwinism, Eugenics, and even the Nazi party. People like Herbert Spencer were able to take the language of evolution from Darwin's theories and apply them to politics, economics, and society in general. A small example of this is the supplied quote from Herbert Spencer himself. Spencer is actually the one who coined the phrase “survival of the fittest,” not Darwin. Unfortunately, ideas of Social Darwinism prevaded many aspects of American society during the late 19th to early 20th centuries, including policies that affected immigration, imperialism, and public health. Some of these policies remained in our society until the 1970's!
Ethics Biologicized
Darwin created a scientific foundation for ethics by exploring morality from an evolutionary standpoint.
Altruism in Social Animals (Humans)
Darwin's follow-up book, “The Descent of Man” dedicated large sections to evolutionary explanations for the moral sense found in humans. https://www.iep.utm.edu/evol-eth/
"any animal whatever， endowed with well-marked social instincts, the parental and filial affections being here included, would inevitably acquire a moral sense or conscience, as soon as its intellectual powers had become as well, or nearly as well developed, as in man."-Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man
Read More of Darwin on the Evolution of Morality at: https://repository.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2433/73086/1/KJ00000077867.pdf
Darwin connects morality with natural selection by explaining that the survival and prosperity of a social group depends to a large extent on the harmonious cooperation of the members of the group, and this behavior must be based on altruism. Such altruism, by furthering the survival and prosperity of the group, also indirectly benefits the fitness of the group's individuals. The result amounts to selection favoring altruistic behavior.
Conclusion
This presentation should have addressed the ways in which Darwin's 1-2 punch of On the Origin of Species and The Descent of Man impacted culture by influencing racism and establishing a scientific foundation for ethics.
I would like to research in which ways Darwin's theories impacted religion during his era and during ours.
Hopefully this has given you some idea of the huge impact that Darwin had on our culture. Not bad for a couple of books that were published almost 150 years ago!
