"The evolutionary ideas of Charles Darwin (1809–1882) destructively influenced many of the Western world’s leaders in the early 20th century. In particular, intellectuals in Germany were among the earliest to embrace
Darwinism enthusiastically, and to apply its concept of the survival of the fittest to human society.
The most infamous result of this was the Holocaust, but social Darwinism was also a major influence in the events leading up to World War One.
In the decades leading up to World War One, intellectuals embraced Darwinism and its ethical implications as a welcome alternative to Christian belief and ethics. Ernst Haeckel (1834–1919), the most famous German Darwinist of the time, and notorious forger of embryo diagrams, believed that evolution would “bring forth a complete revolution in the entire world view of humanity.” He argued that Darwinism required the abandonment of Christian morals.
Until the advent of Darwinism, the sanctity of human life was taken for granted in European law and
thought. But many German intellectuals began to argue that some had a greater right to life than others, namely, those who are deemed more valuable to society. This inequality was mainly based on race, but the Darwinists argued that there were inferior individuals within a race as well. For instance, zoologist and politician Karl Vogt (1817–1895) argued that a mentally handicapped child was closer in value to an ape than to his own parents. It should thus not be surprising that the world’s first eugenics society was founded in Germany, promoting the concept founded by Darwin’s cousin Francis Galton (1822–1911).
German social Darwinists were enamoured with the vision of the “master race”, which in their mind was the Nordic or Germanic race. Eugenicist Alfred Ploetz (1860–1940) coined the term “racial hygiene” (Rassenhygiene), and later welcomed the Nazis as the ones who would put this into practice. While the belief in German superiority led the Nazis to
exterminate “undesirable” individuals, during WW1 German Darwinists used the same idea to justify war on states which they deemed inferior. They believed that the destiny of the master race was to dominate or eliminate “inferior” races, and the most obvious way to accomplish this was through war. In their view, all races and states were in competition for survival, and those who would not wage war would perish.
The concept of Lebensraum or “living space” was one of the justifications for the Germans in both World Wars to take over their neighboring countries. While Germany was not actually overcrowded, they believed that since one side or the other was always advancing, “without war, inferior or decaying races would easily choke the growth of healthy budding elements, and a universal decadence would follow.” Max Weber emphasized this racial competition:
Of course, there was the problem of undesirable individuals in the German population as well; Ploetz suggested sending them to the front lines so they would be killed before those who were deemed to be more fit.
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts,... murders,
The most infamous result of this was the Holocaust, but social Darwinism was also a major influence in the events leading up to World War One.
In the decades leading up to World War One, intellectuals embraced Darwinism and its ethical implications as a welcome alternative to Christian belief and ethics. Ernst Haeckel (1834–1919), the most famous German Darwinist of the time, and notorious forger of embryo diagrams, believed that evolution would “bring forth a complete revolution in the entire world view of humanity.” He argued that Darwinism required the abandonment of Christian morals.
Until the advent of Darwinism, the sanctity of human life was taken for granted in European law and
German social Darwinists were enamoured with the vision of the “master race”, which in their mind was the Nordic or Germanic race. Eugenicist Alfred Ploetz (1860–1940) coined the term “racial hygiene” (Rassenhygiene), and later welcomed the Nazis as the ones who would put this into practice. While the belief in German superiority led the Nazis to
The concept of Lebensraum or “living space” was one of the justifications for the Germans in both World Wars to take over their neighboring countries. While Germany was not actually overcrowded, they believed that since one side or the other was always advancing, “without war, inferior or decaying races would easily choke the growth of healthy budding elements, and a universal decadence would follow.” Max Weber emphasized this racial competition:
“Our descendants will not hold us responsible primarily for the kind of economic organization that we pass on to them, but rather for the extent of elbow-room [Ellbogenraum], that we obtain through struggle and leave behind”
Of course, there was the problem of undesirable individuals in the German population as well; Ploetz suggested sending them to the front lines so they would be killed before those who were deemed to be more fit.
While there were other factors that caused World War 1, the German leadership’s universal belief in social Darwinism and its anti-Christian ethical system justified their militarism and made it into a moral good." CMI
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts,... murders,
Mark 7:21
