How did social Darwinism apply ideas about natural selection to human societies?

Social Darwinism, a theory championed by the British philosopher Herbert Spencer, applied the principles of natural selection to human societies by framing social life as a constant struggle for existence. Spencer, who coined the phrase "survival of the fittest," argued that human groups, social classes, and individuals were subject to the same evolutionary laws as biological species.123

Under this framework, proponents believed that unrestricted competition allowed the most capable individuals to rise, leading to the gradual improvement of the population. This ideology was used to justify laissez-faire capitalism and political conservatism, as it suggested that state intervention interfered with natural processes. Consequently, wealth was viewed as a sign of success and superior moral attributes, while the poor were labeled the "unfit" and discouraged from receiving aid.13

Ethically, it is crucial to recognize that these theories were frequently misused to rationalize imperialist, colonialist, and racist policies, which caused profound harm by promoting the false notion of inherent biological or cultural superiority.1