It was Herbert Spencer, not Charles Darwin, who coined the phrase Survival of the Fittest

It was Herbert Spencer, not Charles Darwin, who coined the phrase Survival of the Fittest

John Kenneth Galbraith, the renowned economist and social commentator, often referenced the phrase "survival of the fittest" in his works to describe the competitive nature of capitalism and the unequal distribution of wealth and power in society. However, what many people may not realize is that it was actually Herbert Spencer, not Charles Darwin, who coined the phrase.

Herbert Spencer, a British philosopher and sociologist, first used the term "survival of the fittest" in his book "Principles of Biology" in 1864, long before Charles Darwin popularized the concept of natural selection in his seminal work "On the Origin of Species" in 1859. Spencer believed that in the struggle for existence, only the strongest and most adaptable individuals would survive and thrive, while the weaker and less fit would perish. This idea was later adopted by Darwin and incorporated into his theory of evolution, but it was Spencer who first articulated the concept in the context of social and economic competition.

Galbraith, a staunch critic of unfettered capitalism and advocate for social welfare programs, often used Spencer's phrase to highlight the inherent inequalities and injustices of the capitalist system. He argued that in a society where wealth and power are concentrated in the hands of a few, those who are less fortunate are left to fend for themselves and struggle to survive. Galbraith believed that the government had a responsibility to intervene and redistribute wealth to ensure a more equitable distribution of resources and opportunities.

In his book "The Affluent Society," Galbraith famously criticized the notion that economic growth and material prosperity were the ultimate measures of a society's success. He argued that the pursuit of wealth and consumerism had led to a culture of excess and waste, while neglecting the needs of the poor and marginalized. Galbraith's ideas were radical and controversial at the time, but they resonated with many who saw the flaws and injustices of the capitalist system.