Difference between revisions of "Survival of the fittest"
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| − | '''Survival of the fittest''' is a famous phrase coined by British economist Herbert Spencer in ''Principles of Biology'' (1864), used to summarize [[natural selection]]. He went on to use the phrase to reinforce his theories on the development of companies and societies in general. Modern biologists tend not to use the phrase because it reduces to an informal [[tautology]] if one defines "fittest" to mean possessing attributes conducive to survival. | + | '''Survival of the fittest''' is a famous phrase coined by British economist [[Herbert Spencer]] in ''Principles of Biology'' (1864), used to summarize [[natural selection]]. He went on to use the phrase to reinforce his theories on the development of companies and societies in general. |
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| + | The phrase went on to infulence ideas such as [[Social Darwinism]] and [[fascism]]. | ||
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| + | Modern biologists tend not to use the phrase because it reduces to an informal [[tautology]] if one defines "fittest" to mean possessing attributes conducive to survival. | ||
[[category:evolution]] | [[category:evolution]] | ||
Revision as of 15:56, April 20, 2008
Survival of the fittest is a famous phrase coined by British economist Herbert Spencer in Principles of Biology (1864), used to summarize natural selection. He went on to use the phrase to reinforce his theories on the development of companies and societies in general.
The phrase went on to infulence ideas such as Social Darwinism and fascism.
Modern biologists tend not to use the phrase because it reduces to an informal tautology if one defines "fittest" to mean possessing attributes conducive to survival.