Question

How does the Gospel of Wealth differ from Social Darwinism, and do these differences change your opinion of Rockefeller and Carnegie?

A. The Gospel of Wealth promotes philanthropy, while Social Darwinism supports wealth accumulation. My opinion is positively influenced.
B. The Gospel of Wealth promotes wealth accumulation, while Social Darwinism emphasizes philanthropy. My opinion is negatively influenced.
C. Both ideologies advocate for philanthropy. My opinion remains unchanged.
D. Both ideologies emphasize wealth accumulation. My opinion remains unchanged.

Answer 1

The Gospel of Wealth, espoused by Andrew Carnegie, advocates for the use of wealth for philanthropy, while Social Darwinism promotes the idea that wealth should accumulate with the 'fittest'.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Gospel of Wealth and Social Darwinism are two distinct ideologies that emerged during the industrialization era of the United States. Andrew Carnegie, a prominent steel magnate, authored The Gospel of Wealth, which advocated for the responsibility of the elite to utilize their wealth for the betterment of society through philanthropic endeavors such as funding hospitals, libraries, and colleges. In contrast, Social Darwinism, influenced by Herbert Spencer's misapplication of Darwin's theory of evolution, suggested that individuals succeed due to inherent traits and that interference in the free market, including philanthropy to the less fit, was against nature's law of the 'survival of the fittest'.

Therefore, the correct answer to the question is A. This approach to philanthropy would likely influence one's opinion of industrialists like Carnegie and Rockefeller positively, as it shows a commitment to giving back and improving societal conditions.