Question

The 19th-century philosophy of Social Darwinism maintained thata.the government should have control over the means of production and the marketplace b.all social class distinctions in American society should be eliminated c.economic success comes to those who are the hardest working and most competentd.wealth and income should be more equally distributed

Answer 1

Social Darwinism advocated that economic success naturally comes to those who are the hardest working and most competent, implying any form of assistance to the less capable is counterproductive.

Step-by-step explanation:

Social Darwinism was a 19th-century philosophy that misapplied Charles Darwin's evolutionary theory to human society. Advocates such as Herbert Spencer coined the term 'survival of the fittest' and claimed that economic success comes to those who are the hardest working and most competent. They argued that certain people are naturally superior and that these traits can lead to success, wealth, and power without external help. This ideology justified wide disparities in wealth and social status, suggesting that the poor were inherently less capable and thus should not be assisted. Social Darwinism was often used to rationalize the success of the wealthy, implying that their prosperity was a sign of biological fitness.

Given the options provided, the correct answer to the student's question is that the 19th-century philosophy of Social Darwinism maintained that economic success comes to those who are the hardest working and most competent, aligning with the idea that society would naturally 'weed out' those who were less capable. Therefore, any form of charity or effort to artificially assist those deemed weaker or poorer was seen as counterproductive to the evolution of society.

Answer 2

Answer: Economic success comes to those who are the hardest working and most competent

Explanation: Social Darwinism theory referred to a theory taken from Darwin's theory of evolution, according to which only the most capable individuals survive and continue their own species. Thus, proponents of Social Darwinism argued that only the wealthiest, most valuable hardworking entrepreneurs should survive in the market, thus opposing social reforms.