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"Survival of the fittest" is a phrase that originated in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_theory evolutionary theory] as an alternative (but less [[accurate]]) way of describing the [[mechanism]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection natural selection]. It is more commonly used today in other [[contexts]], to refer to a supposed greater [[probability]] that "fit" as opposed to "unfit" individuals will [[survive]] some test.

"Survival of the fittest" is a phrase that originated in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_theory evolutionary theory] as an alternative (but less [[accurate]]) way of describing the [[mechanism]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection natural selection]. It is more commonly used today in other [[contexts]], to refer to a supposed greater [[probability]] that "fit" as opposed to "unfit" individuals will [[survive]] some test.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Spencer Herbert Spencer] first used the phrase – after reading Charles Darwin's ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Species On the Origin of Species]'' – in his ''Principles of Biology'' (1864), in which he drew parallels between his own [[economic]] theories and Darwin's [[biological]] ones, writing, "This survival of the fittest, which I have here sought to express in [[mechanical]] terms, is that which Mr. Darwin has called 'natural selection', or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life."

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Spencer Herbert Spencer] first used the phrase – after reading Charles Darwin's ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Species On the Origin of Species]'' – in his ''Principles of Biology'' (1864), in which he drew parallels between his own [[economic]] theories and Darwin's [[biological]] ones, writing, "This survival of the fittest, which I have here sought to express in [[mechanical]] terms, is that which Mr. Darwin has called 'natural selection', or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life."

Darwin first used Spencer's new phrase "survival of the fittest" alongside "natural selection" in the fifth edition of ''On the Origin of Species'', published in 1869, intending it to mean "better designed for an immediate, local environment".

Darwin first used Spencer's new phrase "survival of the fittest" alongside "natural selection" in the fifth edition of ''On the Origin of Species'', published in 1869, intending it to mean "better designed for an immediate, local environment".

It has been claimed that "the survival of the fittest" [[theory]] in [[biology]] was [[interpreted]] by late 19th century [[capitalists]] as "an [[ethical]] precept that sanctioned cut-throat economic [[competition]]" and led to the advent of the theory of "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Darwinism social Darwinism]" which was used to justify [[laissez-faire]] economics, [[war]] and [[racism]]. However, these ideas predate and commonly [[contradict]] Darwin's ideas, and indeed their proponents rarely invoked Darwin in support, while commonly claiming [[justification]] from [[religion]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_Alger,_Jr. Horatio Alger] [[mythology]]. The term "social Darwinism" referring to capitalist [[ideologies]] was introduced as a term of [[abuse]] by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Hofstadter Richard Hofstadter]'s ''Social Darwinism in American Thought'' published in 1944.

It has been claimed that "the survival of the fittest" [[theory]] in [[biology]] was [[interpreted]] by late 19th century [[capitalists]] as "an [[ethical]] precept that sanctioned cut-throat economic [[competition]]" and led to the advent of the theory of "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Darwinism social Darwinism]" which was used to justify [[laissez-faire]] economics, [[war]] and [[racism]]. However, these ideas predate and commonly [[contradict]] Darwin's ideas, and indeed their proponents rarely invoked Darwin in support, while commonly claiming [[justification]] from [[religion]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_Alger,_Jr. Horatio Alger] [[mythology]]. The term "social Darwinism" referring to capitalist [[ideologies]] was introduced as a term of [[abuse]] by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Hofstadter Richard Hofstadter]'s ''Social Darwinism in American Thought'' published in 1944.

Russian anarchist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Kropotkin Peter Kropotkin] viewed the concept of "survival of the fittest" as supporting [[co-operation]] rather than [[competition]]. In his book ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutual_Aid:_A_Factor_of_Evolution Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution]'' he set out his analysis leading to the conclusion that the fittest was not necessarily the best at competing individually, but often the [[community]] made up of those best at working [[together]].

Russian anarchist [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Kropotkin Peter Kropotkin] viewed the concept of "survival of the fittest" as supporting [[co-operation]] rather than [[competition]]. In his book ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutual_Aid:_A_Factor_of_Evolution Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution]'' he set out his analysis leading to the conclusion that the fittest was not necessarily the best at competing individually, but often the [[community]] made up of those best at working [[together]].

The phrase "survival of the fittest" is not generally used by modern biologists as the term does not [[accurately]] describe the [[mechanism]] of natural selection as biologists [[conceive]] it. Natural selection is differential [[reproduction]] (not just [[survival]]) and the object of scientific [[study]] is usually differential reproduction resulting from [[traits]] that have a genetic basis under the circumstances in which the [[organism]] finds itself, which is called fitness, but in a technical sense which is quite different from the common [[meaning]] of the word.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survival_of_the_fittest]

The phrase "survival of the fittest" is not generally used by modern biologists as the term does not [[accurately]] describe the [[mechanism]] of natural selection as biologists [[conceive]] it. Natural selection is differential [[reproduction]] (not just [[survival]]) and the object of scientific [[study]] is usually differential reproduction resulting from [[traits]] that have a genetic basis under the circumstances in which the [[organism]] finds itself, which is called fitness, but in a technical sense which is quite different from the common [[meaning]] of the word.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survival_of_the_fittest]

[[Category: Biology]]

[[Category: Biology]]

[[Category: Sociology]]

[[Category: Sociology]]

[[Category: Economics]]

[[Category: Economics]]