2. What modern paradigms
do we live by today?
Remember our definition of
paradigms: Long lasting patterns
of ideas, beliefs and values that
act as a criteria for decision
making How can opposing paradigms
lead to conflict?
Late nineteenth century
paradigms:
- Newtonian Paradigm
- Darwinian Paradigm
- Social Darwinism
- Economic Paradigm
- Marxist Paradigm
- Christian Paradigm
3. Science and Social Beliefs:
The Impact of Charles Darwin
Darwin's revelations concerning nature
found a ready audience among many
Darwin's theory of evolution manifested in Europe who believed that the laws of
that an underlying plan existed which nature should apply to human behavior.
directed and controlled the behavior
and development of natural life -Europe, and most of the developed
world saw the world as one big
- Darwin hypothesized that each competition.
creature is born with slightly different
characteristics. - The Darwinian law of survival of the
fittest provided justification for
-Certain characteristics allow an animal aggression and territorial acquisitions
to survive long enough to reproduce and the view that other nations were
more likely to be rivals than allies.
- These characteristics are then passed
on to the next generation while those - The perception that some cultures
creatures with characteristics were less advanced than other
inappropriate to the environment are technologically "superior" cultures
destroyed and not allowed to pass their seemed to provide justification of
characteristics on to the next Darwin's theories and the
generation appropriateness of applying his
biological theories to the human
condition.
4. Is there Social
Darwinism today?
Is there still a focus on survival of the fittest and competition in terms
of society?
Does modern society demonize people of different races, or classes?
5. European nations at the turn of
the century desired…
Industrial strength.
To control of the rest of the
world.
Which brings us to:
Imperialism: When a country
invades another country with
the intent of increasing their
wealth resources and power.
“The sun never sets on the
British Empire”
By 1922 Britain owned 25%
of the earths total land area.
6.
7. Connecting Imperialism
and Social Darwinism:
It was widely accepted that class and racial struggle was natures
“inescapable law” in the late 19th century. Therefore the conquest of
“inferior” people was justified.
8. The United States has decided to make
Saskatchewan an American state and drew a new
border all around the province. We are about to
become American citizens.
With a partner come up with five reasons why you
want to maintain your Canadian citizenship.
While social Darwinism has become an uncommon word since the end of WWII it could be argued that there is still a mentality of survival of the fittest among modern society. Think in terms of class and race. The idea that peoples ills are just a result of natural selection and is just a way in which the evolutionary process creates the best adapted species was a common thought in the late nineteenth century. Does modern society demonize people of different races? Classes?
