Final answer:
Social Darwinism is a theory that applies Darwinian evolution principles to human society, suggesting that inherent superiority leads to success. It was used to justify social inequalities and is sometimes still visible in modern meritocratic justifications for economic disparities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Social Darwinism is a philosophy that applies the concepts of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection to human society. It posits that certain individuals or groups succeed in society because they are inherently superior. Popularized by thinkers like Herbert Spencer with the phrase "survival of the fittest," this philosophy was used to justify social inequalities, racism, and imperialism, asserting that success in business and society was a sign of evolutionary superiority.
This philosophy can be related to the German Catechism in that both promote a belief in certain groups being inherently superior to others. However, the German Catechism is religious in nature, whereas Social Darwinism is secular and misapplies scientific theories to social and political contexts.
Today, the remnants of Social Darwinism can sometimes be seen in justifications for economic disparities, in the form of meritocratic arguments that assert successful individuals are inherently deserving because of their abilities, hard work or adaptiveness, regardless of the unequal starting conditions or opportunities afforded to them.