C(caps)harles Darwin, the father of evolution theory, proposed that plants and animals on Earth evolved from single-celled bacteria through a process of natural selection. His book "On the Origin of Species" is considered the bible of evolutionary theory. However, this theory has a very destructive side which is often overlooked.
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The Dangerous Notion of "Survival of the Fittest"
The core idea of "natural selection" or "survival of the fittest" suggests that nature goes through a continuous battle where only the worthy species survive while the unworthy and weak become extinct. This seems like a purely scientific theory, but unfortunately, it encouraged ideologies that put a black mark on history - a dark side that Darwinism cannot escape blame for.
Hitler's Twisted Interpretation
We all know about Hitler, who killed more than 6 million Jewish people with the goal of extinguishing them from the face of the Earth. In his autobiography "Mein Kampf," Hitler said:
"If nature doesn't wish those weaker individuals should mate with the stronger, she wishes even less that a superior race should intermingle with an inferior one; because in such cases all her efforts, throughout hundreds of thousands of years, to establish an evolutionary higher stage of being, may thus be rendered futile."
He continued,
"He who would live must fight, He who doesn't wish to fight in this world, where permanent struggle is the law of life, hasn't the right to exist."
Clearly, Hitler's perspective of a "superior race" battling an "inferior race" for survival echoes the dangerous interpretation of natural selection - only the strong deserve to live.
Influence on Communism's Founding Fathers
"Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, considered the fathers of communism, focused on societal inequalities and aimed to create a more equitable system. However, their work held a surprising connection to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
While a detailed exploration of this relationship is beyond the scope of this discussion, it's noteworthy that Marx dedicated his seminal work, Das Kapital, to Darwin. Their mutual admiration is further evidenced by Engels' enthusiastic letter to Marx upon reading On the Origin of Species:
'Darwin, whom I am just now reading, is splendid' (Evolution, Marxian Biology & the social scene).
Marx reciprocated this sentiment, calling On the Origin of Species
'the book which contains the basis of the natural history of our view' (Evolution, Marxian Biology & the social scene).
Friedrich Engels further drew parallels between Darwinism and Marxism, stating,
'Just as Darwin discovered the law of evolution in organic nature, so Marx discovered the law of nature in human history' (Evolution, Marxian Biology & the social scene).
A biography of Marx by Oncu Yayinevi reinforces this connection:
'Darwinism presented a whole string of truth supporting Marxism and proving and developing the truth of it. The spread of Darwinist evolutionary ideas created a fertile ground for Marxist ideas as a whole to be taken on board by the working class.... Marx, Engels, and Lenin attached great value to the ideas of Darwin and pointed to their scientific importance, and in this way, the spread of these ideas was accelerated.'
Vladimir Lenin, who implemented Marx's theories in Russia, also admired Darwin. Lenin's leadership of the Communist Bolsheviks, a revolutionary movement marked by violence, established the first communist state. In a biography of Lenin, it's noted that he praised Darwin for
'putting an end to the belief that the animal and vegetable species bear no relation to one another, except by chance, and that they were created by God, and hence immutable' (Landmarks in the life of Stalin, E. Yaroslavsky)."
Conclusion
A misinterpretation of Darwin's theory, often referred to as Social Darwinism, has unfortunately been used to justify violence and prejudice. This distorted view argues that stronger groups or races are superior and have the right to dominate or eliminate weaker ones. This concept has no basis in Darwin's actual work, which focused on natural selection and adaptation within species, not competition between them. However, some individuals, including those responsible for horrific atrocities, misused the concept of 'survival of the fittest' to justify their actions. They viewed their victims as unfit for survival and used Darwin's theory as a supposed scientific validation of their cruelty. This misuse not only disrespects the complexities of Darwin's work but also ignores the fundamental human values of compassion and empathy.
It's important to note that racism existed long before Darwin's theory. Social, economic, and political factors have fueled racial prejudice throughout history. Darwin's ideas, however, were misinterpreted by some to provide a seemingly scientific justification for existing racist ideologies. This misuse fueled the flames of racism and continues to be a dangerous misrepresentation of evolutionary theory.
