Does Darwinism lead to Socialism?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Britain: ISSE to hold meetings on Charles Darwin

This month, the International Students for Social Equality in Britain are holding a series of meetings to mark the anniversary year of Charles Darwin—2009 marks 200 years since the birth of Darwin and 150 years since the publication of On the Origin of Species.

***

We invite all students, young people and readers of the World Socialist Web Site to attend these meetings, where we will look at the connection between Darwin and Karl Marx. When Marx read On the Origin of Species he wrote, “Darwin’s work is most important and suits my purpose in that it provides a basis in natural science for the historical class struggle.”

So impressed was Marx by Darwin’s work that he sent an inscribed copy of the second edition of Das Kapital to Darwin when it was published in 1873.

At Marx’s graveside his friend Friedrich Engels declared, “Just as Darwin discovered the law of evolution in organic nature, so Marx discovered the law of evolution in human history; he discovered the simple fact, hitherto concealed by an overgrowth of ideology, that humankind must first of all eat and drink, have shelter and clothing, before it can pursue politics, science, art, religion, etc.; and that therefore the production of the immediate material means of life and consequently the degree of economic development attained by a given people or during a given epoch form the foundation upon which the state institutions, the legal conceptions, the art and even the religious ideas of the people concerned have been evolved, and in the light of which these things must therefore be explained, instead of vice versa as had hitherto been the case.”

These two giants of science defined the modern era and the full implication of their work is only just beginning to become apparent today. Evolution has come into its own with the discovery of DNA and, despite opposition from religious fundamentalists, has become an essential part of our everyday lives and experience. Marx has long been dismissed as outmoded, particularly since the collapse of the Soviet Union, but his work has taken on a new relevance as the world financial system implodes and the economy descends into an unparalleled depression.

***

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/may2009/isse-m09.shtml

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The free market best represents the idea of a 'survival of the fittest', however that is not what evolution is about. Socialism would be like God telling the lions to stop eating other animals and become vegetarians. How about a happy medium where God says to the lions, you can eat other animals, but your belly gets full and stays full so you only eat what you need and nothing more?

[Danno 1,228]

We know it was a big part of the most deadly form of government yet, Communism.

The Communist often converted what churches they did not destroy into learning centers for Atheism and darwinism.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Erm no - Darwinism does not lead to Socialism.

Socialism was derived from Karl Marx' work - and socialist systems of government (Social Democracies, to be exact) were largely defined after WW1 and WW2.

Darwinism is associated with the evolutionist movement, but that's not necessarily anti-religion as much as anti-fundamentalist.

Edited May 11, 2009 by Private Pike

[Niels Bohr 72]

Erm no - Darwinism does not lead to Socialism.

Socialism was derived from Karl Marx' work - and socialist systems of government (Social Democracies, to be exact) were largely defined after WW1 and WW2.

Darwinism is associated with the evolutionist movement, but that's not necessarily anti-religion as much as anti-fundamentalist.

I agree. Socialism stemmed from Karl Marx not Darwinism. There is a lot of misnomer going on in politics, and it leads people into the wrong direction. Sometimes these people are are in the wrong direction thinks they are right. This makes it even harder to tell them their view is incorrect.

[Danno 1,228]

Erm no - Darwinism does not lead to Socialism.

Socialism was derived from Karl Marx' work - and socialist systems of government (Social Democracies, to be exact) were largely defined after WW1 and WW2.

Darwinism is associated with the evolutionist movement, but that's not necessarily anti-religion as much as anti-fundamentalist.

I agree. Socialism stemmed from Karl Marx not Darwinism. There is a lot of misnomer going on in politics, and it leads people into the wrong direction. Sometimes these people are are in the wrong direction thinks they are right. This makes it even harder to tell them their view is incorrect.

Actually, you and Pike both need to clean your glasses, I talked about Communism.

[Niels Bohr 72]

We weren't replying to DANNO.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I was replying to the question posed in the topic title.

[Danno 1,228]

I stand corrected (again)

[Peikko 1,575]

No.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Does Darwinism lead to Socialism? Evil doesn’t care what you think about it.

[Peikko 1,575]

Which is evil, having a social conscience or believing that species evolve?

[rclouse 0]

The free market best represents the idea of a 'survival of the fittest', however that is not what evolution is about. Socialism would be like God telling the lions to stop eating other animals and become vegetarians. How about a happy medium where God says to the lions, you can eat other animals, but your belly gets full and stays full so you only eat what you need and nothing more?

Approves!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The free market best represents the idea of a 'survival of the fittest', however that is not what evolution is about. Socialism would be like God telling the lions to stop eating other animals and become vegetarians. How about a happy medium where God says to the lions, you can eat other animals, but your belly gets full and stays full so you only eat what you need and nothing more?

Approves!

[_Simpson_ 250]

The free market best represents the idea of a 'survival of the fittest', however that is not what evolution is about. Socialism would be like God telling the lions to stop eating other animals and become vegetarians. How about a happy medium where God says to the lions, you can eat other animals, but your belly gets full and stays full so you only eat what you need and nothing more?

I think its more like, Socialism would be like God telling the hyenas that there in control of making sure that the lions only eat what they need.

The happy medium is that God lets the lions decide how much they eat because they had to chase that dam thing around the field.