Herbert Spencer, not Charles Darwin, coined “survival of the fittest.” Spencer used it to justify his theories of laissez-faire capitalism, arguing that aiding the vulnerable outside one’s own family was against self-interest and disrupted natural selection thus weakening evolution. Darwin didn’t use the phrase until the 5th edition of On the Origin of Species, and even then, he used it to describe that which best fits its environment.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Spencer’s ideas morphed into Social Darwinism. Philosopher Daniel Dennett called it “an odious misapplication of Darwinian thinking in defense of political doctrines that range from callous to heinous.”
But Darwin himself emphasized something entirely different: the importance of social instincts, cooperation, and empathy in human evolution. As he wrote in The Descent of Man, “...for those communities, which included the greatest number of sympathetic members, would flourish best, and rear the greatest number of offspring.”
How different would the world be if we had embraced Darwin’s vision of compassion instead of the distortion in his name?
If ever there were a time to turn this around, it’s now. Here are three simple yet powerful ways to help shift the narrative and build a better future:
Read original sources: I pulled that Darwin quote from my own copy of The Descent of Man.
Do what lights you up: For me, right now, that’s reading about science.
Build community: As Darwin said, that’s how we “would flourish best.”
I focus on ADHD Career Advancement/Leadership Development because people with ADHD have the empathy and creativity to help solve the world’s problems. I want to see as many ADHD leaders as possible, whether in high-powered roles or everyday life. One of my clients defines leadership as 'someone others can depend on' and strives to be a leader at work, in his family, and in his community.
This is the first of my ‘Big Idea’ posts—where I explore how new ideas, good science, creativity, and bold leadership can help us build a better world. Use what resonates, and make it your own.
References:
Darwin, C. (1871). The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex. John Murray.
The Darwin Correspondence Project. (n.d.). Survival of the fittest. The Darwin Correspondence Project. https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/commentary/survival-fittest
Betuel, E. (2019, June 19). Herbert Spencer coined the phrase ‘survival of the fittest.’ He wasn’t thinking about human competition. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/herbert-spencer-survival-of-the-fittest-180974756/
Social Darwinism vs Social Spencerism
Herbert Spencer, not Charles Darwin, coined “survival of the fittest.” Spencer used it to justify his theories of laissez-faire capitalism, arguing that aiding the vulnerable outside one’s own family was against self-interest and disrupted natural selection thus weakening evolution. Darwin didn’t use the phrase until the 5th edition of On the Origin of Species, and even then, he used it to describe that which best fits its environment.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Spencer’s ideas morphed into Social Darwinism. Philosopher Daniel Dennett called it “an odious misapplication of Darwinian thinking in defense of political doctrines that range from callous to heinous.”
But Darwin himself emphasized something entirely different: the importance of social instincts, cooperation, and empathy in human evolution. As he wrote in The Descent of Man, “...for those communities, which included the greatest number of sympathetic members, would flourish best, and rear the greatest number of offspring.”
How different would the world be if we had embraced Darwin’s vision of compassion instead of the distortion in his name?
If ever there were a time to turn this around, it’s now. Here are three simple yet powerful ways to help shift the narrative and build a better future:
Read original sources: I pulled that Darwin quote from my own copy of The Descent of Man.
Do what lights you up: For me, right now, that’s reading about science.
Build community: As Darwin said, that’s how we “would flourish best.”
I focus on ADHD Career Advancement/Leadership Development because people with ADHD have the empathy and creativity to help solve the world’s problems. I want to see as many ADHD leaders as possible, whether in high-powered roles or everyday life. One of my clients defines leadership as 'someone others can depend on' and strives to be a leader at work, in his family, and in his community.
This is the first of my ‘Big Idea’ posts—where I explore how new ideas, good science, creativity, and bold leadership can help us build a better world. Use what resonates, and make it your own.
References:
Darwin, C. (1871). The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex. John Murray.
The Darwin Correspondence Project. (n.d.). Survival of the fittest. The Darwin Correspondence Project. https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/commentary/survival-fittest
Betuel, E. (2019, June 19). Herbert Spencer coined the phrase ‘survival of the fittest.’ He wasn’t thinking about human competition. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/herbert-spencer-survival-of-the-fittest-180974756/
Amy Stewart-Cooper
I'm a Certified Personal Coach, graduated from Thriving Coach Academy which is an ICF accredited program. I am also an Endorsed Colleague of 500 Rising. I also have a black belt in Okinawan Kenpo and Kobudo. And I used own and operate a popular fine dining Italian restaurant.