Isn't 'Survival of the Fittest' something a bully or a ganster would say before he knocks your lights out

Answer 1

Possibly. But "fittest" can mean smartest rather than most muscular. In fact, for humans, this is clearly the case. Mother Nature bred us for our brains, not our brawn. The apes grow larger, and are stronger even in proportion to their size.

And fittest might also properly be described as most civilized, as the gangster who points a gun at you, who may think he has the upper hand in that moment, is pulling enmity to himself that will be his downfall. The gun may be strong, but the rule of law will usually prove to be stronger still. Admittedly, this is in part because the rule of law has guns behind it, but it's not just gang versus gang. Legitimate authority, as we declared a long time ago, derives its powers from the consent of the governed. A gang of bullies such as the Nazis could not prevail for long, because they draw the enmity of the entire world. And so much energy needs to be spent on just keeping their own people in subjugation.

Answer 2

I very much doubt that this would be said, or even thought of as a justification for a bully's actions.

Survival of the fittest means those who are most fit to survive in the particular environment they are in. In some cases that would mean those most able to hold perfectly still while waiting for their prey to feel safe enough to become careless.

In other cases it could mean those best able to "work" the social situuation they are in...as in schmoozing the boss so they don't get laid offl

It is entirely environmentally defined. Thus adaptablility would be the most useful survival trait.

Answer 3

No. It is something you would say involving a fierce condition or competition. Like Battle of the Bands for example, survival of the fittest refers to the best showing through to win.

Answer 4

It could be an appropriate statement at a time like that, but I agree with Jamesmom2- few bullys are that litearate, creative or... sassy. I do like that application, though. It shows inteligence and creativity... not very nice, but it is creative....


A thought I had last night- don't know how applicable it is, but....

Capitalism is the economic environment that allows commercial evolution... Only the most fit companies survive.

Answer 5

Hmm ... watch Pulp Fiction ... gangster (played by Samual Jackson) quoting Ezekiel 25:17 just before brutally killing several people:

"And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger, those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers, and you will know my name is The Lord, when I lay my vengeance upon thee."

My point: A gangster or bully can say all sorts of things to justify what he's doing. So what?

Answer 6

oh probably, although bullies and gangsters are rarely that literate
but 'fittest' doesn't mean strongest, or meanest, (and if I had a gun then I would survive and the bully or gangster wouldn't, which would make me the 'fittest' in that situation)

Answer 7

No... but its like how (arguably) evolution took place... each generation is better than the next because the weak members of a species who die young/ catch diseases etc dont reproduce so the best genes are passed on

Answer 8

It seems to be like that. The truth is, it is a natural selection process if you look at the whole universe, not just on human perspective.

Answer 9

No. If they actually believed that, then they would be aware that there's always a bigger bully. But they're always surprised to learn that lesson.

Answer 10

A gangster would say something more along the lines of "where's my money?"