How might Social Darwinism help countries like America?

Question

In kind, Social Darwinism suggests that people (and ultimately countries) who are stronger or have more resources are more likely to gain power and keep it. Additionally, it is the responsibility of those strong countries to seek out the weak in order to protect and support them. This idea gained popularity in what we would consider the "superpower" countries like Great Britain, France, Germany, and the United States.

Answer 1

Hey Shonye: This doesn't sound like any definition of "Social Darwinism" that I have ever read. I went to Wikipedia to look up a definition of SD and there doesn't seem to any mention of "seeking out the weak in order to protect and support them." My understanding of SD is that the weak will be eliminated from society because they have not "evolved" to be powerful. 

 

Take a look at this definition and see what you think.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Darwinism

 

Your teacher may be working with a different definition of SD than I am aware of.

 

Good luck!

 

Kelly