<P> The term social Darwinism is used to refer to various ways of thinking and theories that emerged in the second half of the 19th century and tried to apply the evolutionary concept of natural selection to human society . The term itself emerged in the 1880s, and it gained widespread currency when used after 1944 by opponents of these ways of thinking . The majority of those who have been categorized as social Darwinists did not identify themselves by such a label . </P> <P> Scholars debate the extent to which the various Social Darwinist ideologies reflect Charles Darwin's own views on human social and economic issues . His writings have passages that can be interpreted as opposing aggressive individualism, while other passages appear to promote it . Some scholars argue that Darwin's view gradually changed and came to incorporate views from other theorists such as Herbert Spencer . Spencer published his Lamarckian evolutionary ideas about society before Darwin first published his hypothesis in 1859, and both Spencer and Darwin promoted their own conceptions of moral values . Spencer supported laissez - faire capitalism on the basis of his Lamarckian belief that struggle for survival spurred self - improvement which could be inherited . An important proponent in Germany was Ernst Haeckel, who popularized Darwin's thought (and personal interpretation of it) and used it as well to contribute to a new creed, the monist movement . </P>

The application of the theory of evolution and natural selection to human society was known as