Why did social Darwinists support unrestricted economic competition?

Social Darwinists, including Herbert Spencer, supported unrestricted economic competition because they believed that human societies were subject to the same laws of natural selection as biological species.123

This perspective was rooted in several key beliefs:

• Evolutionary Progress: Social Darwinists argued that a struggle for existence, governed by the "survival of the fittest," was necessary for the continued improvement of the human population. They believed that competition naturally allowed the most capable individuals to succeed, thereby advancing society.234
• Justification of Inequality: Wealth and social status were viewed as indicators of superior, inherent attributes such as industriousness and frugality. Consequently, class stratification was seen as a natural outcome of these differences.2
• Opposition to Intervention: Proponents argued that state-led reforms or welfare programs were harmful because they provided aid to the "unfit," thereby interfering with natural processes and impeding social progress.24

By advocating for laissez-faire capitalism, they sought to minimize government interference, believing that unfettered competition was the most effective way to maintain a healthy, evolving social order.243