How did Charles Darwin's theory of biological evolution influence social scientists?

Charles Darwin’s theory of biological evolution profoundly influenced 19th-century social scientists, though it was often fundamentally misinterpreted and applied to human society in ways that lacked scientific rigor.1

The Influence of Evolutionary Thought

Following the publication of On the Origin of Species in 1859, the concept of evolution gained immense authority, leading social scientists to attempt to apply biological principles—such as natural selection, inheritance, and variation—to social phenomena. Thinkers like Herbert Spencer, Lewis Henry Morgan, and E.B. Tylor viewed societies as organisms that evolved through linear stages, progressing from "savagery" and "barbarism" to "civilization".213

Social Darwinism

The most prominent, yet ethically flawed, application was social Darwinism. This theory posited that human societies were governed by the "survival of the fittest," a term coined by Spencer. It was used to:45
* Justify laissez-faire capitalism and minimal state intervention.45
* Rationalize class stratification and imperialist or racist policies by claiming that wealth and power were indicators of biological superiority.46

Ethical Implications

It is essential to recognize that scientific findings should never dictate morality. The use of evolutionary theory to justify discriminatory practices, genocide, or the neglect of vulnerable populations is morally indefensible. By the 20th century, expanded knowledge of cultural and biological phenomena largely undermined these early, biased evolutionary frameworks, leading to more nuanced approaches like cultural relativism championed by figures such as Franz Boas.748