Do Darwin's theories encourage snobbery and pretence?

Question

Most of this theories are snobbish. I am sure if he were alive today, he would classify cocaine/marijuana symbol of high class.

Disclaimer: This is a hypothetical question to gain perception of humanity. Nothing personal.

Answer 1

Dude! Darwin's theories were about biological evolution, NOT social evolution. Social darwinism is a seperate idea which sought its validation from the psuedo-scientific theories Darwin came up with. However, beginning in the mid-to late 1800s, social darwinism was a BIG deal for many wealthy educated people interested in rationalizing their racism, classism, and general selfishness. It was a social "manifest destiny" backed up by pseudo-science.

However, ideas that could've been called "social darwinistic" were around long before Darwin published his biological theories..
At the turn of the 19th century (late 1700's/early 1800s) Malthus wrote about how the evolution of society must incl the "weeding out" of weaker elements in society (the poor, the uneducated, the dark-skinned). He advocated selective reproduction for the "stronger" populations (wealthy and educated) and advocated restricting reproduction for the "weaker" ones. Insane asylums, hospitals catering to the poor, and charity should be AVOIDED at all costs to help eliminate the support for society's "weak".

Darwinism now has become a catch-all term for biological AND social evolution, which may be unfair to Darwin's original ideas.

But, yes, in this sense, i still believe "Darwinism" encourages snobbery. Theory reflecting life, reflecting theory...

Answer 2

I suspect you've never read any Darwin.

I suggest Origin of the Species to start, it is very short and written at a level most grade school kids can understand.

In my experience, people who discuss Darwin as either snobbish or atheistic have never read his works, or any of the many biographies of him where he talks all the time about the overwhelming variety of his deity's planet-and the humbling effect thereof.