Social Darwinism, or the "survival of the fittest", was an argument used by wealthy men by Andrew Carnegie. It suggests that some people are naturally more capable and successful than others, and that society should allow the most capable and successful people to rise to the top without interference. The idea was often used to justify laissez-faire capitalism and extreme wealth inequality, with the belief that the wealthy and successful had earned their position through their own abilities and hard work, and that government intervention to redistribute wealth or level the playing field was unnecessary and even harmful.