Charles Darwin's Leaders In The Early 20th Century

To begin, the evolutionary ideas of Charles Darwin dangerously influenced many of the world’s leaders in the early 20th century. At the peak of those influenced was Germany, they were among the first to apply the concept “survival of the fittest” to an actual human society. Prior to the arrival of Darwinism, human lives were taken for granted in European law. But many German intellectuals began to argue that some should have greater rights than others; those who are more important to German society. Although primarily racial inequality, some argued there were inferiors within a race as well. They said that the mentally handicapped had no value. Some even compared them saying that, “a handicapped child is closer in value to that of an ape than that of their parents (Karl Vogt).”1 They were obsessed with the idea of a “master race”, which in their mind was a competent Nordic or Germanic race. This idea of a master race is what they used to justify war on states that they deemed inferior. They believed that they were meant to dominate, or “out survive” the more inferior races, and the most apparent way was through war. While Darwin was reluctant to apply his idea to humans, the German supporters did not share his lack of enthusiasm.

While there was of course other problems that led to World War One, German leadership’s view of Darwinism and its “survival of the fittest” and anti-Christian moral system led them to justify war and make it into a moral good. “War is inevitable and peace is merely an armistice in the continuous battle between races and groups for survival.”2