How was social Darwinism used to justify class inequality?

Social Darwinism, a theory popularized by the British philosopher Herbert Spencer, was used to justify class inequality by framing society as a biological struggle for existence.12

Proponents argued that the principles of natural selection applied to human societies, meaning that individuals who achieved wealth and power were inherently "fitter" than those who did not. This perspective held that:123

• Superior Attributes: Wealth was viewed as a direct correlate of superior moral and biological traits, such as industriousness, temperance, and frugality.1
• Natural Stratification: Class differences were considered "natural" outcomes of competition, where the most capable individuals rose to the top.13
• Opposition to Reform: Because this hierarchy was seen as a product of natural processes, social Darwinists argued that state intervention or welfare programs for the poor—labeled the "unfit"—would interfere with evolution and hinder societal progress.12

By equating economic success with biological fitness, this ideology provided a philosophical rationalization for laissez-faire capitalism and the defense of the existing social status quo.12