Social Darwinism - Laughable, to say the least...

[Sol]

We're studying 'social Darwinism' in my history class, and I wanted to know what the community thought about the theory.

Basically, the theory says that in a free market only the companies led by the best and brightest will survive, as the weaker companies will be driven out of their respective markets. The theory goes on to say that this is a good thing, as these business owners are the best of the bunch and should lead society.

Now, I think its rediculous, but I've seen some posts by Stormin Norman (who's really the only capitalist defender here; the rest are really only American apologists) that lead me to believe he might be able to defend it.

[Guest]

Actually I believe social darwinism is a good system, but not the best, its what we have right now and it works and of course, hippies like you are close minded so you naturally think it isn't working.

You need to stop your brain's automatic replies to anything capitalist or american.

I don't promote it, but I don't want to badmouth it if its working.

[Jaha]

Quote: from Guest on 7:39 pm on Nov. 23, 2002
I don't promote it, but I don't want to badmouth it if its working.

its working. people are still alive. humanity has not perished yet. but hopping on one foot works. the question is, why hop when you can walk? walking also works.

i'd rather walk. but you and your hopping friends can do what you like as long as you stay out of my way (i walk fast).

[Guest]

I'm not a capitalist, I just don't feel like the world is ready to leave the comfort zone capitalism has created.

[Kehoe]

The nazis were Social Darwinists.Darwin himself postulated the idea of whites one day destroying the blacks.Darwin,Huxley,Heckel and many other 19th century evolutionary scientists believed in and promoted white supremacy ... food for thought concerning these influential men and their ideas ... just goes to show that those with great intelligence are often the victims of greater ignorance. -Karo

[Guest]

I dunno, considering the time period darwin was in, I'd probably assume the blacks would be wiped out by whites too. I'm surprised they weren't closer to it honestly, the indians were nearly wiped out.

As we are inherently selfish we don't care who we step on to get what we want.

I believe social darwinism to be very objectivist and is used greatly in my evolutionary stalinism theory.

[Tkinter1]

Sol,

If every company survived, no company would do well. Companies and people are encouraged to out do one another so that we are constantly left with a superior product or service. It's the incentive to do better that keeps business alive. It doesnt matter who is smarter, just who is more innovative and determined.

[Ymir]

Maybe companies could be run by the state and moderated so that only the most effective work would be done. It makes so much more sense.
The French pre-WW2 had the idea that if they had many airplane designs then one of them would be of very good quality. It did not work out that way and the funding for a truly efficient warplane would become divided amoungst those of lesser quality. Their whole market became flooded by planes of poor to average quality.

[Tkinter1]

Whats your point Ymir? Sorry if I missed it but...

[Ymir]

Capitalism=Bad

[Tkinter1]

k....

[suffianr]

"Basically, the theory says that in a free market only the companies led by the best and brightest will survive, as the weaker companies will be driven out of their respective markets."

You might want to re-phrase that, Sol. Malaysia, where I live, calls itself a free-market economy. Yet, the companies that are doing best are the companies rife with nepotism, cronyism and corruption.

These companies, in the realm of Big Business, are the ones that get handed multi-billion dollar projects by ministers and share political influence with the ruling parties. These companies have on their boards the sons of the ruling elite, the well-connected party chiefs and executive committee members, the fledgling sycophants and panhandlers.

In Malaysia, you cannot get Big Business unless you know Someone, play golf with him every weekend, and introduce him to your favourite karaoke hostess/concubine. That's life!