social darwinism

". . . investigates the development and evolution of human social and cultural institutions. What emerges is an incredibly powerful argument-if we can wisely manage the evolutionary processes that function within our social and cultural institutions, we will have the power to achieve positive social and economic change that has the potential to drastically improve our institutions, our communities, and ourselves"--Publisher.

Describes the impact of Charles Darwin's scientific writings on the intellectual life of the late nineteenth century, and discusses the use of such Darwinian ideas as "natural selection" and "survival of the fittest," to justify conservative resistance to government efforts to relieve inequality during that period.