social Darwinism

/ˈsoʊʃəl ˈdɑrwɪˌnɪzəm/

Social Darwinism is a discredited sociological theory suggesting that strong people naturally increase their wealth and power, while weaker people are biologically prone to being poor.

In the 1870s, some sociologists took Darwin's theory of evolution and tried using it to explain dynamics in human societies. In social Darwinism, survival of the fittest means that people who are mistreated or struggle financially are biologically weaker and destined to remain at the bottom rung of society. Wealthy elites, according to this theory, are superior human beings. Social Darwinism lost credibility after World War II, when it was strongly associated with Nazism.

Definitions of social Darwinism

1. noun

   the application of Darwinism to human societies, especially the theory that human social groups are subject to struggle and competition in which “superior” groups are advantaged
   type of:

   doctrine, ism, philosophical system, philosophy, school of thought

   a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school