Question

In what ways was laissez-faire ideology different to social darwinism

Answer 1

The term social Darwinism is used to refer to the diverse ideas that emerged in the second half of the 19th century and that attempted to apply a decontextualized reading of natural selection to human society. The term appeared in the 1880s, and gained wide circulation after 1944.

Social Darwinism can be summed up in a supposed “theory” of the evolution of society. Such an idea defended the existence of societies superior to the others and that, in this condition, those that stood out physically and intellectually should become dominant, while the others - less apt - would cease to exist because they would not be able to follow the evolutionary line of society.

The French expression “laissez faire, laissez passer” (Let it go, let it go) sums up a principle dear to liberals who defend economic freedom.

For liberals, the individual is the economic agent and, for this reason, the State must not interfere in economic activities with many rules. If there is any mismatch, the market itself will correct it naturally, that is, it is self-regulating.

Liberalism is responsible for maintaining order, preserving peace and protecting private property.